January 28, 20215 yr Author I'm just too confused Yep me too - this was why I started this thread. Your understanding tallies with mine... I think lol :oops: I summed it up to my Dad last night who didn't get either - get this... As the purchaser it is your responsibility to ensure the "seller" files the correct info on the customs declaration... So we have to trust the "seller" pays the VAT or the marketplace takes the VAT and then follows the rules when posting it - And hopefully we don't all get stung by Royal mail - Please don't forget if you do get charged you can I suppose refuse delivery ergo no charges. Edited January 28, 20215 yr by PC2017
January 28, 20215 yr Bought 2 items from AliExpress this month. Both less than a tenner, and both attracted an extra 20% vat at check-out! Both have arrived OK.
January 28, 20215 yr Bought 2 items from AliExpress this month. Both less than a tenner, and both attracted an extra 20% vat at check-out! Both have arrived OK. The 20% is of course irritating, but I think we would all agree (some hope!) perfectly fair. Obviously the seller/AliExpress have between them sorted out how to do it properly. Without that there was previously effectively a 20% non-import tax; you payed 20% VAT on things made in UK and nothing on low value imported things.
January 28, 20215 yr Author Bought 2 items from AliExpress this month Did you keep the packaging - I would like to see the customs declaration - if not no worries. Obviously the seller/AliExpress have between them sorted out how to do it properly I really hope so, I have ordered two cross blades for my juicer (amazon) and some ecig stuff from Fasttech I am under no illusion that the fasttech package will get through as I was never charged VAT at the POS however amazon did take an estimated VAT for my cross blades. I can't help but ponder if some sellers sorted UK warehouse space and shipped the most requested items before this all went pear shaped - I remember buying my Firefly Cam from gearbest in 2017, I put away an extra few quid to cover VAT & RM (that still worked out a few quid cheaper then ebay) to my surprise it was delivered in 5 working days and posted from the UK even though I purchased it from the "China" warehouse the spare few quid bought a nice summer pint, the good old days!.
January 28, 20215 yr [mention=18050]PC2017[/mention] sorry, all packaging binned. It was a large sticker on the back, stipulating description of contents and value. Not too dissimilar to what it used to be pre-brexit!
January 28, 20215 yr Bought 2 items from AliExpress this month. Both less than a tenner, and both attracted an extra 20% vat at check-out! Both have arrived OK. I heard this requires something like the seller to have set up a special VAT account based somehow in the UK, and that it's improbable most sellers in distant marketplaces (e.g. Aliexpress) will actually do this, and so for now marketplace sellers will probably have a heavy incentive to fake the VAT numbers. I do feel like we're all getting to the bottom of what the rules are...! Edit - perhaps Aliexpress are offering a VAT collection service for their marketplace sellers. That would make some sense.
January 28, 20215 yr I THINK from very quick research... ... You still have to pay VAT and RM charges - UNLESS the company or Marketplace collected the VAT at the point of sale then the overseas company SHOULD as they file the customs declaration print a VAT registration number either the Marketplaces or their own and then THEN in theory your package should just arrive as normal NO RM CHARGES.... From my understanding of it - Some companies can not be bothered with this hassle so they've removed UK from their shipping... I think That sounds like it's probably right - that the rule is this: IF the sale says it includes VAT, then if it's under £135, and their VAT admin is legit, and it's not fags or booze (i.e. excise-duty-liable stuff) then no RM charge from anywhere we currently import from, including the US. unless something's gone wrong with the VAT admin in which case it might be possible to refuse collection, and seek a refund, although this will sometimes be a drastic option, as it will if successful cause a loss for the sender. Does that sound right?
January 28, 20215 yr so as long as the seller lies on the cost of the item and it is not opened to check what it is inside the box i can keep getting robots from china with no import fee or vat added then same as b4.
January 28, 20215 yr so as long as the seller lies on the cost of the item and it is not opened to check what it is inside the box i can keep getting robots from china with no import fee or vat added then same as b4. Haha my family has lawbreaking in its blood, but I'm trying to reduce my desire to do it to zero for various reasons, be a better person etc. It takes me conscious effort...!
January 28, 20215 yr Haha my family has lawbreaking in its blood, but I'm trying to reduce my desire to do it to zero for various reasons, be a better person etc. It takes me conscious effort...! thing is if i bought it from the usa it gets stopped and charged every single time and the box is sliced to bits as well. like i can get a fake Rolex from china no problem but if i tried to get a fake one sent from the usa id never get it. yet postage from china is free but from the usa it is a fortune! i dont get it lol
January 28, 20215 yr thing is if i bought it from the usa it gets stopped and charged every single time and the box is sliced to bits as well. like i can get a fake Rolex from china no problem but if i tried to get a fake one sent from the usa id never get it. yet postage from china is free but from the usa it is a fortune! i dont get it lol . I truly don't understand why either! I suppose thinking about it, it could be that because Chinese sellers enjoy subsidised manufacturing and subsidised postage for smaller packages, via Chinapost, which apparently exploits a rule in international postage treaties in a slightly dishonest way, it's possible for them to send dirt cheap things at tiny cost, so that the chances of there being anything of value are tiny, whereas from America, where shipping labour is unionised and everything costs a lot, the chances are anything you buy will have serious value.
January 29, 20215 yr fanstoys astrotrain / Thomas is not cheap or tiny fkn thing could smash a car window lol
January 29, 20215 yr Author distant marketplaces (e.g. Aliexpress) will actually do this, and so for now marketplace sellers will probably have a heavy incentive to fake the VAT numbers. I believe it's the actual marketplace, amazon. ebay, aliexpress that are required to apply the VAT at the point of sale thus collecting it on the sellers behalf, then I would assume the seller has to print the marketplaces VAT number and post it, I would hope its that simple.
January 30, 20215 yr Author Quick update of my experience - The fasttech package shipped from China did not get stopped, nor did I pay any VAT at POS and it did not have any signs of a new customs declaration form. It was posted via PostNL. I can only assume there is a grace period or the postal system either can not be bothered to check or do not have the man power or maybe I was lucky. Edit However it come with a yellow sticker saying the usual "Goods Do Not Meet The Requirement Of Article 9 and 10 Of The Contract For The Foundation Of The European Community" I believe the customs form was not signed correctly but who knows.
January 30, 20215 yr "Goods Do Not Meet The Requirement Of Article 9 and 10 Of The Contract For The Foundation Of The European Community" I've read this indicates that it's an item on which tariffs/VAT which would be applicable were it to enter the EU as its final destination, is unpaid. Quite surprised you didn't get hit for it at the UK end! As you say maybe grace period.
January 31, 20215 yr I ordered a RockShox Recon Silver from Bikester. Paid in full, in advance. Item was shipped, (collected by UPS), held in their logistics chain for nearly two weeks, and then returned to sender. Bikester were really poor and didn't bother to answer my question regarding this order.
January 31, 20215 yr Author Quite surprised you didn't get hit for Yep me too, you watch the items I bought from Amazon and paid an estimated VAT on will get stopped lol Bikester Never used em thought they were UK based, they put .co.uk on it and I fell for that one, at least bike-discount put .de on theirs... I think some EU/UK delivery companies will do the same as DPD and "pause" their operations until sellers start understanding the new rules and file the correct paperwork, I bet the driver refused to take it, I suspect he would have had to stop for a boarder check and file the paper work manually.
January 31, 20215 yr I tried using Bikester once and smelled at rat when I had issues with payment, have never tried again.
February 2, 20215 yr Placed 3 orders from china only the one direct from green bike kit has arrived in 10 days ,but this had been reposted as only has uk post on box .The other two via ebay have both been cancelled after 10 days and had to get a refund [both had vat deducted from the selling price] now both items have been relisted at a far higher price and stupid postage costs
February 2, 20215 yr Author via ebay have both been cancelled I fear sellers don't seem to understand that items sold on ebay should be ok as long as the new customs details are filed correctly... Although I don't blame them, brexit and the VAT rules happening at the same time... I will order a new 1to4 cable and PAS sometime next month from Aliexpress if I can without incurring above normal costs.
February 2, 20215 yr I fear sellers don't seem to understand that items sold on ebay should be ok as long as the new customs details are filed correctly... My concern is that they *do* understand the new regulations and have made a business descision to stop selling to the UK rather than become involved with the new system. Their view might change once the new regulations have settled down and everyone (including the relevant governments) has worked out a smooth way to comply with the new requirements.
February 2, 20215 yr The eBay problem is the Chinese based sellers are getting caught out because the goods might be in the uk but the PayPal address is not, so eBay then deduct the 20% in extra fees so the seller just has to swallow it or in both my purchases say cancelled as no stock. But then relisted for a higher price about 35% and a high postage cost on top
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