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Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

It is now 30 days since I had my notice and I have heard nothing more from eBay. I stopped selling shortly after receiving the notice so as to drop below the annual threshold, which I have done, and I am thinking of starting again but keeping below th 85k and seeing what happens.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

thanks for sharing

thats what i been thinking they may force big sellers

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Thought I would chime in here, I was also sent this email on a Monday. I have exceeded the threshold without realising this year.

It will be 30 days tomorrow since ebay emailed me asking me to register or 'they may' be forced to put limitations on my account.

Well I stopped selling as soon as I got the email. And on the 20th of April this month once they check my seller level again I still won't be below the threshold. As a matter of fact I won't be below the threshold until next month I believe ...

I will let you know what happens. I am fully prepared for my account to get restrictions put on it. I am in no position to become VAT registered as I fully believe I won't have a business anymore if I do.

If my account does get restrictions put on it I will potentially lose an account with 4k feedback and have to re-build myself again. Or alternatively figure out a way to become VAT registered and hope to God people still buy from me and my business grows ... but that's a big hope in such a competitive market full off private sellers.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

I was thinking if ebay do not put limits on my account ( I hope they don't ... ) I would just stop using this account for 6 months to REALLY bring down the total turnover whilst moving sales to another account for those 6 months. It would be a slow 6 months starting on an account with 0 feedback but better than getting the primary banned and it would technically be slow on the primary anyway always keeping a close eye to keep the turnover below 85k ...

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

The issue is, eBay state it also goes on projection, not just sales. But yes sharing sales on multiple accounts has always been the advice on this forum, so thats a sensible thing to do.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

I'm confused ... how can you be hitting 70k on multiple accounts in a 12 month period but not be VAT registered ? the way my accountant told me was you can split sales if you register two LTD companies and there is a clear separation between the two businesses rather than selling everything through one channel be that sole trader or LTD.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

That all depends whether you want to declare or not.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

ok, so i received the same message roughly the same time, my 30 days will be up on Thursday, as of about a week ago the message from ebay with the link to add VAT number disappeared. As in its gone, wasn't deleted, just vanished of its on accord......

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Is your account registered in the UK ?

From what I understand if it isn't a UK registered ebay account you are told to add a VAT number from day 1 when you start selling in the UK ebay site.

My account is a UK account and the email I was sent didn't contain any links to register / add a vat number. Just a warning that in 30 days they will start pulling my listings down and eventually may put on restrictions to stop selling altogether.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Anybody else receive the 'April Health Check' email today ? stating that they may have to put blocks on accounts exceeding the 85k turnover.

Not looking good for a lot of us. Fingers crossed they don't touch my account as I stopped selling 31 days ago now.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Yes I’ve had mine too. Looking grim

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

its generic email all the ebay users got this email

I have VAT registered accounts and they sent same email

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

As an update, I have put my correct VAT number on my listings. I already have been VAT registered as the tax man has much more wide ranging powers than Ebay (e.g they can repossess your house, and car, send bailiffs to kneecap you etc) However I have used my partners' address on this account to prevent linkage on ebay's robots on the site. Only my trading name matches ,my VAT details which are linked to a toasted account. I sell 1500 items a week so I found it difficult juggling accounts.

I'm just hoping Ebay aren't going to go round manually checking people's VAT details and linking them to old toasted accounts, especially if you have a good selling record on the new account. I can't see the business sense.

However, I have created some fresh accounts as a back up, but its going to take 6-12 months to build the limits up to the account I have now

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

If you're selling that much volume there is no way around it. You should be VAT registered.

I think the rest of us have accidentally gone over the threshold or have businesses that won't be viable after VAT registration due to how competitive it already is.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

update to my last update,

yes UK registered, my 30 days to add a VAT number are up, i also received the ''april health check'', upon receipt of the first VAT message ''warning'' whatever you want to call it i added a random Vat number, removed it, added another removed it, played about with the concept for a while, deleted all the VAT numbers i had added, and decided to ignore it, i found it strange that i could add and remove as i pleased... checked a week ago for the ''message'' to which it had miraculously vanished, went onto the account today, haven't been restricted at all, can still sell £28,000 per month, it appears for me anyway that the whole thing was a crock of ****, i started a new stealth upon receipt of the restriction warning 30 days ago, so i will in future spread sales, but for now my original account is still sitting exactly the same as it was before the 30 day warning......

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Hmmm don't know what to think of that. Sounds promising but I still think it's too early to say ... I got a feeling restrictions will be dished out on Sunday/Monday if there will be any. If the account has dropped below the VAT threshold then I think those people do not need to worry at all.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Mine is still a good 40,000 over the threshold, I'll update you all again in a few days incase there is any change, but I honestly think it was sent so eBay can be seen to be doing their part as far as HMRC goes, I don't reckon they'll want to be loosing their highest income sellers

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

I wish that is the case. Let's hope they have satisfied the VAT man. I have noticed one of my competitors registering a VAT number over the last couple of days so the threatening emails are clearly working.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Its quite possible people will just add random VAT numbers, it'll take ebay some time to manually check each one is correct.....

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Quick update ...

Still over the threshold by a few thousand as of today but nothing has happened to my account. I have obviously stopped selling so no action has yet been taken.

Is it the same for any one else ?

@racewilder519 what about you considering you are significantly over ?

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

My account is still fine, I'm still pretty much still £40000 over the threshold, it's 34 days since the message so I reckon if they were gonna do anything they would have by this stage, I think we're good ��

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Hi All

I joined up to chat about this as im over the VAT limit by a few thousand last year

The EBAY community boards has some interesting things going on about this

hxxps://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Business-Seller-Board/just-seen-the-first-restricted-chinese-seller/td-p/5919442

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Hi mmmbop

Just had a look at that thread, looks like this year will reveal a lot of new surprises. So they have already started restricting the chinese sellers.

Makes sense. Targeting the big international sellers first then going after the UK sellers later this year.

I'm seriously considering just becoming VAT registered so I can just sell in full force without restrictions or worrying. Just reading in to the second hand margin schemes, it just all seems overwhelming to me ( the record keeping aspect )

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Hi james

I think from what I have read, because all sellers overseas with warehouses in UK HAVE to be VAT registered now, so its an easy prey for HMRC and eBay.

The thing with registering for VAT is youll only get one VAT number and if you run multiple accounts, it will be difficult to get multiple VAT numbers. Im no expert but thats my view. Plus if PayPal take your account down and you have to reboot with another one, cant use the same VAT number as it will cause a link.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

also, i chatted to on of my friends in China, and they already have ways to evade paying a single penny to the HMRC, so it wont be long till they are all 'VAT' registered and barely paying a penny...so the circle will resume and the HRMC will target UK sellers as they are able to 'collect' from them easier...

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Not surprised one bit. People will always figure out a way.

In the end, the little man always pays as they are the easiest targets.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

most of Chinese sellers are already VAT registered and dont ask how they cheating TAX man

they much well off then us and tax man cant do anything to them since they based in china

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Yes exactly, there is one company on eBay that makes £21 million a year. They run over 30 accounts all selling the same items....considering we are only allowed 'two' accounts under eBay UK rules, its a mockery of the UK seller really

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

2 accounts?

No, you can have as many as you want, ebay does allow multiple accounts

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

I thought you could only technically sell the item on one account, you couldnt sell the same item on the second account?

Sorry, I may of miswrote, I know you can have multiple eBay accounts

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Yes under eBay terms you not allow to sell same items on 2 or more accounts but you can have as many eBay accounts you want

To be honest eBay don't even care if you sell same items

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Just read about some one else restricted by ebay. However they were VAT registered in the past but de-registered many years ago and haven't exceeded the turn over for many years but ebays apparently blocked them and anyone that de-registered even if they haven't reached the threshold hold today. They want you to call in and provide evidence of de-registration ...

Pathetic.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

I just read that thread as well on the Community Boards. PRetty bad, they are really going in for the kill on anyone thats an easy target.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Does anyone know what 'evidence of vat de-registration looks like?

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Not sure, but it's usually something your accountant would receive.

Any way having a look at this thread:

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Busi...925154#M173890

It appears many business sellers in the UK are automatically being blocked despite not even reaching the threshold. They then have to call ebay to get it unblocked. This person in particular was also quizzed whether he was selling on OTHER platforms ... wtf has that got to do with EBAY ?

Looks like ebay have lost the plot with HMRC breathing down their neck.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Yes I've been reading that, it's crazy!

I am really dreading the future with eBay selling now. I think its going to come to all of us even close to the threshold, and possibly also anyone who has spurts of big sales because that would then 'project' vat threshold by the end of the year.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

It’s really not fair on how UK sellers are penalized for VAT and yet Chinese sellers are using Phake docs to register for VAT in the UK so that they can list and sell in the UK with no intentions of paying the VAT to HMRC, my Chinese supplier told me yesterday that so many Chinese sellers are registering for VAT using phake docs and none of them are paying VAT and if their asked to then they just shut up shop and start again with new vat no, Ebay and PayPal account. I know Ebay doesn’t give a f*#k about this as their making their money fees but us UK sellers get penalized it’s really not fair HMRC need to look into this further and get this right.

Re: Ebay are demanding I display my VAT number in listings.
 

Yes exactly!

All this has done really is ensured China get off without paying a penny again, but if you're a UK person, you are going to get screwed. China literally will dominate online marketplaces in the UK soon.

Although registering as an overseas seller to get a VAT number, seems very simple to do. Why not just do this to get your own VAT number that you;ll never file a return for?

https://assets.publishing.service.go...3410/VAT1A.pdf