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No matter where your company is registered or what country VAT you will have, if you will exceed total sales over 85k you will have to display UK VAT number! Its not just any vat. After 85k you need to pay VAT in the UK. Thats the point!

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

Yes I think we are aware of that, hence the thread.

Not all. People who are writing about chinese getting phake uk vat. Dont think you can get and use a phake vat in a long term basis.

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

Its not that, you've misunderstood.

The Phake VAT number is easy to get, and the HMRC have no powers to recoup VAT anyway from the Chinese, so they essentially do nothing when a seller puts in a return for say £50k when they have in fact sold £5million over multiple accounts.

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

Just found another thread on ebay ...

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Priv...5787704/page/2

Apparently HMRC have been swamped with calls from UK ebay sellers wrongfully getting blocked. As ebay keep telling them they can not do anything until they receive a compliance letter from HMRC.

Some are getting lucky having their accounts unblocked again with sympathetic agents, others are struggling to get anywhere. Some of the ebay sellers have 10k+ listings and just suddenly been blocked ... What happens to the listings ? do they get re-instated when their account gets re-instated ? that is a lot of items to re-list and type up again if not backed up ...

Any one on here had there account blocked over the last couple of days ?

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

It;s proper mental, some of those sellers accounts arent even near half the threshold. eBay seem to be making things up that the HMRC are 'telling' them.

I called the HMRC today and asking about obtaining proof that I dont need to be VAT registered and they told me they wouldnt send any 'proof' at all, if I dont need to be, I dont need to be, you shouldnt bother them etc. They said that they have not told eBay anything that there operators are claiming (i asked the guy on the phone to look on this thread and he nicely did - he found it remarkeable!)

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

Funniest thing.

So the Chinese and their VAT numbers. This guy has registered his VAT number but managed to register it at the actual HMRC offices in Scotland:lol:

GUO RONGZHI
XiaJiao Lingnan Electronic Commerce Industrial Park,guangzhou
510000 广东省
China
Complete information
VAT number:
GB 275509579


Yes, valid VAT number

Member State GB
VAT Number GB 275509579
Date when request received 2018/05/01 21:17:14
Name GUO RONGZHI
Address HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS
RUBY HOUSE
8 RUBY PLACE
ABERDEEN
AB10 1ZP

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

This whole situation is an absolute joke / mockery of the system. The international sellers making millions that HMRC really want to target will be the ones finding loopholes to get away with it.

Yes of course he has using phake docs it’s a f$uc$ing shambles

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

That's completely normal and it's light vat number overseas seller who don't have any accountant here has to register address on hmrc address

Most of Chinese address are hmrc

Only problem is they just got number but not paying vat and hmrc can't do anything

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

So best to join them then.

How do we sign up for a VAT number in random details like Mr Chineseman has?

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

So, you can simply put any address down on this VAT form?

It seems too easy..

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

Also, Ebay said the details on your ebay account had to match those on the VAT number - so how does it work if these Chinese sellers use the HMRC address? Ive yet to find another Chinese seller using an HMRC address though..

And you think HMRC will let that account sell on ebay? Truly?

This is only for the UK seller. International seller who makes sales over 85k into uk has to register for UK Vat, bit a business is located anywhere in the world.

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

well sameway Chineseman doing,

your business has to be abroad its not for us who based in uk since we have addresses in uk

ebay dont care for the address for overseas sellers since its legit way they are allow to do this since they based not in uk

for uk resident address has to match

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

Ah I see, so another way to screw the UK seller. If you're overseas with a warehouse here, you can enter any address in the world - brilliant. So essentially the whole thing will achieve nothing in the fight against Chinese domination of our countries marketplace trading.

Its as bad as the European domination of the UK, now the UK internet is controlled by the Chinese...ol wonder if we can initiate a Chexit? :bounce:

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

HMRC claim 1.5 billion is lost in VAT errors / people not declaring.

So even if they can get 300 million from breathing down paypal and amazon's neck ... I guess it's still a win/win situation for them.

I've already counted 2 of my competitors registering a legitimate VAT number after those threatening emails ebay sent out.

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

I agree completely. Im not so much interested in whys and hows, I am more interested in how to create a workaround for Stealth accounts. Because the details will never match on the account to a VAT number, which you need a National Insurance number to get.

Im surprised that none of the bigwigs/owners on this forum seem to of commented on any of this?

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

Because none of them VAT registered :clap:

If maybe they come and comments then their comments will be get advice from accountant :mad2:

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

I stopped selling on April 1st to allow my sales to drop below the £85K - it is now at £78K. I listed a couple of items today on my legit account and got this message
”You are unable to list new items pending evidence of full compliance with your UK VAT obligations. If you have already provided a UK VAT number please check that it remains valid and that your company or First & Last Name details provided to eBay match those on your VAT registration. If you haven’t registered for VAT with HMRC, visit HMRC’s website here . Once you have registered with HMRC, provide your VAT ID to eBay here. This restriction will remain in place until you have updated or added your valid VAT details or otherwise provided us with evidence of compliance. Failure to comply with UK VAT Obligations may result in further action and restriction from trading on ebay.”
Looks like I am screwed and will need to open/buy my first stealth a/c.

To be honest if your below the VAT threshold which £85,000 you do not need to register for VAT, call HMRC and confirm this I have and they advised me I do not need to VAT registered so I then asked for something in writing so that I can forward this to Ebay to shut them HMRC told me they will not provide that in writing and Ebay should already know this if your below the threshold it’s not required. I would call Ebay and inform them this as your below threshold it’s not required as per HMRC tax laws and have them unrestricted your account then don’t use it for a year. You might have to tell Ebay that your going stop selling for a year because your starting another venture and because your below threshold for vat and you won’t be continuing to sell in Ebay for a year then theirs no need to be VAT registered. That’s only way I think you can save your account I think!

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

What dosent make sense is the HMRC actually state on their own website that they will confirm you are exempt/ an exception

'Get an exception
You can apply for a registration ‘exception’ if your taxable turnover goes over the threshold temporarily.

Write to HMRC with evidence showing why you believe your VAT taxable turnover won’t go over the de-registration threshold of £83,000 in the next 12 months.

HMRC will consider your exception and write confirming if you get one. If not, they’ll register you for VAT.'

https://www.gov.uk/vat-registration/when-to-register


I am sure my time is approaching, Im well over the threshold and have been each year for about four years. I have yet to have an email, but it will come, I am sure, so still trying to find the best way to deal with this when it comes.

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

And you are still able to list items etc even though you are over the threshold ???

I went over the threshold for the first time ever, but immediately stopped selling.

Been over 30 days now. I am taking a break for at least 3 months now ...

But i'm scared when I try to list an item I will get that same message as Lesstix ... Jut an unnecessary headache that I don't need.

I should ask. Lesstix have you ever been VAT registered in the past ? seems like lots of accounts that were registered in the past are having blocks put on their accounts.

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

So where you initially allowed to list a few items before you got hit with that notice ? or was it on the first item you listed ?

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

I listed 3 items without any problems (these are still active) and on the forth listing I got the message of doom.

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

I literally add stock to my 300 or so listings on a daily basis...the doom must be coming for me soon.

According to the people on the eBay forum there is a button to press to say no vat needed or something like that, have you explored?

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

Also, i presume you are listing new items not quantity on existing items?

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

It is second hand photography gear

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

Any further information on the button would be appreciated

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

Only you can advise us really, as your at that point. Why not sign up the eBay community forums and ask the guys who found the button on there?

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

I know the button you are referring too ...

I went in to change my company details (update my mobile number) and after I made the changes the following page asked whether I am VAT registered showing a button to confirm yes or no basically.

Those buttons are just generic they don't do anything as far as I can tell. It's probably just a written confirmation for ebay customer service. So once you click no on that, if you are blocked when you approach customer service via ebay chat they unblock you ?? I'm guessing ... but it could be the case.

I haven't listed any items so I don't know if I am blocked and whether the buttons work i'm not going to take the risk yet ... just going to wait till I am way, way below the threshold before attempting to list any items so I have a ground to stand on when I talk to customer service about getting my account unblocked if it is. I've already opened some new accounts though to avoid this situation in the future and I really need to take better care of monitoring my turnover.

It's a grind as it is already buying and selling. I would have no issues just going full on and becoming VAT registered if it wasn't such a pain in the backside.

My thinking is if you have crossed the 85k line, you have to register for VAT. No matter you wait a month and you are below that under ebay calculations, you exceeded the sales in the period and had to be regisyered. And you had to have the vat number. Its like when you cross the line you can not go back, but to have the number and then deregister when you come back into a small business without vat. You can not play with the vat getti g it on and off each month.

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

Dude, you're still missing the point :)

ONE CAN NOT REGISTER FOR VAT IN A STEALTH NAME. The Stealth name and the VAT registration name have to match otherwise it dosent matter and eBay will block it anyway, even if is a real Vat number.

Thats the point of this thread!

You can actually exceed Vat thresholds and apply for an 'exception' if its only a small amount or temporary.

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

No my friend, think you are not following the question a d answer.
Lesstix wrote about his non stealth acc, and wrote later that he will need to get his first stealth. So for him it is a different situation.
Also the thread title doesnt say that it is for stealth acc and people write about vat issue in general. Each case is different. For stealth i completely understand.
But not people write about stealth and they also deserve an answer dont you think?

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

Thought it was a Stealth forum not the eBay community forum.

Theres no issue adding VAT numbers to genuine accounts, register for VAT, add number, simple.

The issue is, Stealth account holders cant register for VAT under Stealth names., so I presumed being a Stealth forum, we would discuss the possible workarounds that are needed in this scenario.

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

Used items do not attract VAT.

In this scenario ebay demanding vat was an issue for all.accounts, not only stealth! Its not so fast to get a vat number. There are also half stealth accounts. And this forum is not only about stealth but about all possible issues on ebay.

All items attract vat, no matter new or used. For used you can use Margin scheme vat, but you Have to get and pay vat for any condition item. Unless it is in exampt list.

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

Takes less than 30 days to get a VAT number. If your a foreign, might take longer obviously, thankgod for Brexit en all.