Claiming French VAT back online orders?

[Kiwi79]

Hi folks, has anyone managed to validate their French VAT (TVA) back for an online order imported into the UK - if so how?

I ordered a few items from a French store because what I wanted was not available from a UK based supplier.

I knew the order would be eligible for VAT and import % which worked out around 22%. However the store charged the item to me with the French TVA added and said I need to claim it back afterwards. OK slightly annoying that I have to Pay UK VAT + import on an amount that includes French VAT (VAT on VAT).

They have provided me with a TVA certificate (Bordereaux De Vente a L'expiration) which apparently needs to be validated at something called a Pablo terminal, now the catch appears to be there are no Pablo terminals outside France... :-(

Edited by Kiwi79 on Wednesday 12th January 10:26

[PF62]

Kiwi79 said:

Hi folks, has anyone managed to validate their French VAT (TVA) back for an online order imported into the UK - if so how?

I ordered a few items from a French store because what I wanted was not available from a UK based supplier.

I knew the order would be eligible for VAT and import % which worked out around 22%. However the store charged the item to me with the French TVA added and said I need to claim it back afterwards. OK slightly annoying that I have to Pay UK VAT + import on an amount that includes French VAT (VAT on VAT).

They have provided me with a TVA certificate (Bordereaux De Vente a L'expiration) which apparently needs to be validated at something called a Pablo terminal, now the catch appears to be there are no Pablo terminals outside France... :-(

The French online retailer doesn't have a clue what they are doing.

What they have provided you with is the paperwork that is given if someone buys in person at the store in France and takes the goods with them when they leave the country and getting the paperwork stamped at customs for the refund.

What they should have done is simply not charged you the TVA when *they* exported the goods to the UK by posting them.

How to get your money back - email them and tell they are idiots and refund the TVA and for them to get it back from the French fiscal authority, or just forget about it.

[Kiwi79]

Thanks PF62. I have emailed them based on the above, no insults (just yet...). Let's see what happens.

[leyorkie]

Don’t they have to register with the UK authorities which costs and has put a lot of suppliers off dealing with uk customers.
I know that a lot of cycle parts suppliers stopped suppling to the UK.
I think there’s some allowance where vat is not charged £135?
After that it’s down to you to sort it out. But if the supplier is not registered I don’t think they can refund the vat.
Brexit !,

[TooLateForAName]

leyorkie said:

Don’t they have to register with the UK authorities which costs and has put a lot of suppliers off dealing with uk customers.
I know that a lot of cycle parts suppliers stopped suppling to the UK.
I think there’s some allowance where vat is not charged £135?
After that it’s down to you to sort it out. But if the supplier is not registered I don’t think they can refund the vat.
Brexit !,

I think that the £135 limit is where the supplier has registered with the uk for vat and can send the goods with uk vat paid. But that scheme only works up to 135, above that they send it without uk vat paid and you have to sort it with the courier. I know a few german suppliers that now have a minimum uk order of around £160 which is I suppose about 135+vat.
brexst!

[PF62]

TooLateForAName said:

leyorkie said:

Don’t they have to register with the UK authorities which costs and has put a lot of suppliers off dealing with uk customers.
I know that a lot of cycle parts suppliers stopped suppling to the UK.
I think there’s some allowance where vat is not charged £135?
After that it’s down to you to sort it out. But if the supplier is not registered I don’t think they can refund the vat.
Brexit !,

I think that the £135 limit is where the supplier has registered with the uk for vat and can send the goods with uk vat paid. But that scheme only works up to 135, above that they send it without uk vat paid and you have to sort it with the courier. I know a few german suppliers that now have a minimum uk order of around £160 which is I suppose about 135+vat.
brexst!

Pretty much - www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-vat-...

If an overseas person sells goods into the UK costing £135 or less then they have to be registered for VAT in the UK and charge and account for UK VAT (although quite how HMRC checks the VAT records of a company in Schengzhou and makes them pay up is another issue).

As the UK VAT has been ‘paid’ then there is no further VAT to pay on import (or customs duty as it is under the £135 threshold).

If the order is over £135 then the seller isn’t required to register for VAT in the UKand account for VAT on that order, but VAT (and potentially customs duty) is payable by the recipient on import. However, because the EU seller has exported the goods from the EU, then unlike when the UK was a member then they shouldn’t charge their EU VAT.