Chinese ebay seller listing some other companies VAT number

[mickytruelove]

I run a ebay/Amazon business and understand how the country is losing loads in VAT to these sellers but can a chinese seller just paste in any VAT number into their company info on Ebay.

I am looking to buy two laser cutter/engravers and found a seller with a UK VAT number that is valid for "Sanven Corporation LTD", I thought i would just double check they would supply a VAT invoice before making the purchase of £2938. I already had a hunch they would not be able to and right enough they cannot.

The listing if anyone wants a look - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60W-CO2-LASER-ENGRAVING-...

There is another seller with the same setup, UK VAT number registered to a UK company with no accounts filed. Surely Ebay should stop this? or am i missing something?

[mickytruelove]

What would happen if i bought the machines and claimed the VAT on my next return, using the UK company and number listed?

[mickytruelove]

Yeah thats them.

By the looks of it if you click the seller information drop down near the VAT number on the ebay listing they have a Chinese address.

The machines are in portsmouth ready to ship. They are just avoiding VAT and corp tax. Turns out this model is repeated across europe and if you google "sanven corporation gmbh" they have a company in germany, not trading, with a VAT number. But all funds go straight to a chinese Paypal never to be seen again or taxed.

in summary, this country is buggered. right up the wrong'un.

[mickytruelove]

I think they check to see if the VAT number is valid but not that it actually belongs to their company.

[mickytruelove]

i think you have the wrong end of the stick.

They are simply listing a VAT number belonging to another company. The items they sell are imported already and are in portsmouth ready to deliver in UK.