Hi All,
Not sure where to ask this question, maybe some of you haven't experienced it yet etc?
But if you buy items through Ebay which are not UK based, if you're in the UK, an additional 20% VAT is added automatically. This isn't always in the listing as it, I believe, is added by Ebay and not the seller, so sometimes there will be notification of the forthcoming charge and other times there won't.
I made a payment via Paypal last night and the charge was added as I paid, an additional $39, which on that particular purchase I can stand as I got it for a reasonable price.
I know this isn't all bad as it stops the UK post from 'robbing' £8 from you for an item which can't be delivered due to customs charges etc. but if the seller is paid direct, with Western Union, BidPAy (if its still going) etc, - which used to be a pain as its a clunky system to use and requires more info. than the automated Paypal payments, especially as Ebay have now owned Paypal for a number of years, but would the VAT be automatically added by this type of payment, or will the payment taken be the balance as listed ie. item cost plus postage costs?
The same issue is starting to come through on European to UK sales too, although this should change for dealings of less than quite a high value per year depending on Country ie. Germany 100,000Euros, but Ebay regs. state they will simply add 20% on ALL items.
Cheers, Gary