ebay and VAT???

[extra 300 driver]

I want to buy someting, new, from ebay. I am being told that I will have to add 17.5vat to the final price, is that right? I mean isnt the final bidding price THE FINAL BIDDING PRICE???

Otherwise it could get a bit like Ryanair's extra charges!

[limpsfield]

I think this is okay as long as the seller makes it clear in the listing - I have seen lots of IT stuff on Ebay where where the seller makes it clear that VAT will be added

[wedg1e]

Yeah, I just bought an item that was +VAT.

I just persuaded someone who's VAT-registered to pay for it. They claim the VAT back, I pay cost price and gain a favour

Edit: As long as you're happy with the total price, what's the difference?

Edited again: actually, I may have dreamed that this happened....

>> Edited by wedg1e on Sunday 14th August 12:09

[eharding]

Assumes the seller is VAT-registered and not taking the proverbial. If they're a high-feedback outfit with an established eBay presence, then they're also probably a commercial seller and adding VAT (sadly) required. Some geezer with minimal feedback asking for VAT added is, probably, ripping you off.

[JonRB]

I think eBay should clarify their position on this and allow the seller to specify that they are VAT-registered and enter their VAT number before they can do this.

In the meantime, if the seller is doing this and is not quoting their VAT number then ask them to quote it to you and then verify it with HMC&E. If it checks out then fair enough, but if they're pulling a fast one then report it to HMC&E and eBay. EBay may or may not care, but HMC&E will and will descend on the seller like a ton of bricks.

>> Edited by JonRB on Saturday 13th August 22:40

[Eric Mc]

Wedgie - what you did could be constituted as a VAT fraud - unless the person who bought the item on your behalf declared VAT on the sale of the item when they resold it to you.

Basic rule of VAT - a trader can only claim back the Input VAT if the item they buy is to be used or resold WITHIN THEIR OWN TRADE.

Be careful about congratulating yourself in public on bypassing the law - especially on an internet forum. I already know of someone who is serving time at Her Majestey's pleasure for doing just that.

>> Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 14th August 10:32

[rich1231]

And VAT is the one thing you dont want to d1ck about with.

[wedg1e]

Eric Mc said:

Wedgie - what you did could be constituted as a VAT fraud - unless the person who bought the item on your behalf declared VAT on the sale of the item when they resold it to you. Basic rule of VAT - a trader can only claim back the Input VAT if the item they buy is to be used or resold WITHIN THEIR OWN TRADE. Be careful about congratulating yourself in public on bypassing the law - especially on an internet forum. I already know of someone who is serving time at Her Majestey's pleasure for doing just that. >> Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 14th August 10:32

Well, Eric, I take everything anyone says on an open forum with a pinch of salt, and I recommend that everyone else does the same

After all, we all know that most TVRs make 1000000 bhp, don't we...

After I bumped off my grandparents and used the hidden Nazi gold bars to buy all that cocaine from MI5... hang on, there's someone at the door...

[planetdave]

I never knew that my grannys real name was Eric.

I was aware of the Oirish roots and the financial accumen but so far have never found her hidden PDA.

[Eric Mc]

Let's hope HM C & R take all comments about VAT fiddles on the Internet with a pinch of salt too. The Speed Camera Partnership obviously were not inclined to do so with the chap who boasted about how he had escaped a speeding fine.

What's a PDA?

>> Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 14th August 13:09

[wedg1e]

Eric Mc said:

Let's hope HM C & R take all comments about VAT fiddles on the Internet with a pinch of salt too. The Speed Camera Partnership obviously were not inclined to do so with the chap who boasted about how he had escaped a speeding fine. What's a PDA? >> Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 14th August 13:09

Point taken, Eric

PDA is Pointless Digital Apparatus, carried by yuppies to show that they have 'considerably more toys than you...'