Surely this is illegal and should be reported to HMRC?

[W4NTED]

A UK LTD and fully compliant company hosts a yearly 1 day wedding exhibition in London. Foreign company's come in from various countries bringing their goods (mostly in personal suitcases and excess baggage) - sell at the wedding exhibition for 1 day in cash only and also take orders. The next day they pack up and head back to their respective countries without declaring any sales to UK authorities.

Who is at fault here - the company hosting the exhibition or the people coming in and selling on the day?

How come the HMRC allow such events to take place!? Surely this is detrimental to UK businesses?

Is there anyway to report this activity if illegal?

[Eric Mc]

What has the UK limited company done wrong?

[Simpo Two]

Should they (the foreign sellers) be declaring the cash at Customs on the way out?

[W4NTED]

Eric Mc said:

What has the UK limited company done wrong?

Year on year they invite company's in to the UK to sell to the UK public without any background checks as to if they are eligible to sell in the UK and if they are declaring their income? I don't know it was a general thought but this can't be right IMHO.

[Eric Mc]

As long as the UK company is accounting for the transactions and the related taxes, customs declaration etc (if appropriate), then they are probably in the clear. There are specific rules for specific types of goods and services and there may be even outright bans on specific transactions - but you need to be a lot more specific about the nature of the business they are in.

[W4NTED]

I'll send you a PM probably easier Thanks Eric