Buying goods from the EU... now that we know what 'Leave' meant

[AngusMcDoon]

Does that mean that a German (say) supplier selling anything costing under £135 to a UK customer has to register with HMRC?

That's my understanding. However, as this is soon to be EU wide legislation for their non EU imports (from July next year) it won't just affect EU suppliers to UK, it will affect all non EU suppliers to EU & UK. The reason for this is because the VAT free import limit (currently £13 in the UK, similar EU wide) has been much abused, especially by Chinese sellers.

Hopefully it will all sort itself out in the coming months.

 

[ronsurf]

We find that the paperwork required to import to the UK from outside the EU is not difficult and can be streamlined. Not sure why import from EU to UK should be difficult.

I didn't say it was difficult. I just pointed out additional requirements that were not there before. Previously we could enjoy having products sent to us (as individuals) from anywhere in Europe. In my case I could order parts of any value and have them sent to my home for €5.

This will no longer be the case. Either the individual has to manage the paperwork (whether or n.ot it is difficult, it still needs to be done), or now has to buy from a UK supplier. If you're a UK supplier this is all good news as UK customers are now limited in options. As an individual customer, I would expect to be paying more for something from the EU British businesses being what they are. They are unlikely to do anything extra for free, whether it is easy or not.

 

[st599]

Does that mean that a German (say) supplier selling anything costing under £135 to a UK customer has to register with HMRC?

Yes, and provide details of each shipment and the VAT collected.

Or not bother and only supply consignments of greater than £135 to the UK.

 

[JumbleDuck]

That's my understanding. However, as this is soon to be EU wide legislation for their non EU imports (from July next year) it won't just affect EU suppliers to UK, it will affect all non EU suppliers to EU & UK. The reason for this is because the VAT free import limit (currently £13 in the UK, similar EU wide) has been much abused, especially by Chinese sellers.

Yes, and provide details of each shipment and the VAT collected.

Thanks, very much, both of you. Will this also apply to private transactions, like buying second hand stuff on eBay? No VAT payable on the sale, as I understand it, but perhaps there is on the import?

 

[Frogmogman]

Maybe this an example of the myriad opportunities that we are told Brexit will create, allowing the renaissance of traditional old industries, such as Cornish smuggling....

 

[Bristolfashion]

Maybe this an example of the myriad opportunities that we are told Brexit will create, allowing the renaissance of traditional old industries, such as Cornish smuggling....

I've already thought of that - boat on South coast, relatives in Cornwall. We just need a contact on the French coast.

Pssst, wanna buy some cheese?

 

[dgadee]

Well according to its eBay listing, the 100w solar panel I want is still available at the same price- £61 including P&P.
But after trying to buy it, I got a message saying that they can no longer supply to the UK, and they gave me a refund. Not even an option for buying it from them.
Not only is this a much better price than I can get from a UK seller (best I've found so far is £84), I bought my first panel from them and it would mean a perfect match which I believe gives the best performance.

I wonder if they are sending to NI?

 

[dgadee]

Brexit benefits are fiction. In 8 to 10 years time, we will be back in, one way or the other as our kids generation will not tolerate the Brexit nonsense. In the meantime, we have to put up with either paying higher prices for a lot of things or unable to purchase as you have stated.

No so sure. Anyway, if remain had fought for a soft brexit rather than to deny the vote we might not have got a right wing victory (in my opinion).

You are all just getting a taste of what we in NI have had for years. Many eBay sellers will not sell to NI and we have had to pay shockingly high p&p costs. Welcome to the club.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Is this why I’ve just had to pay £47 duty to DHL for a set of courtesy flags I bought from Courtesy Flags. Priced in dollars I foolishly thought they were coming from the USA but in fact they’ve come from Sweden.

 

[sailaboutvic]

And us cruisers in Europe are have the same problems with buy stuff from back in the UK .
Extra cost or a sorry cant do,
What a fu@k up,
It now means we going to have to have parts sent to a UK address and pay uk vat then when back fly them back out with the possibility of having to pay import dues and vat a second time.
Well I can only say we got what we deserved.

 

[sailaboutvic]

No so sure. Anyway, if remain had fought for a soft brexit rather than to deny the vote we might not have got a right wing victory (in my opinion).

You are all just getting a taste of what we in NI have had for years. Many eBay sellers will not sell to NI and we have had to pay shockingly high p&p costs. Welcome to the club.

Belive it or not p&p from the uk as always been a rip off , how do a set of bearing costing £10 cost more to stick in a jiffy bad and sent to Europe ? How do a tube carton 3 " wide buy 2'6 long cost €90 p&p ,
I can get packages send from one UE country to other up to 35kg what ever size for €25 .

 

[dgadee]

And us cruisers in Europe are have the same problems with buy stuff from back in the UK .
Extra cost or a sorry cant do,
What a fu@k up,
It now means we going to have to have parts sent to a UK address and pay uk vat then when back fly them back out with the possibility of having to pay import dues and vat a second time.
Well I can only say we got what we deserved.

Just buy from Europe. If UK businesses don't want your business, go elsewhere.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

And us cruisers in Europe are have the same problems with buy stuff from back in the UK .
Extra cost or a sorry cant do,
What a fu@k up,
It now means we going to have to have parts sent to a UK address and pay uk vat then when back fly them back out with the possibility of having to pay import dues and vat a second time.
Well I can only say we got what we deserved.

No duty will be payable on goods between EU and UK, either way.

The same legislation requiring non UK businesses selling to consumers in the UK to register for and collect UK VAT is also coming to the EU in July. That means UK businesses selling to EU consumers will have to do the same thing. I expect the large UK internet chandlers will do just that. Whether small suppliers do it I think depends on how much of a dog's dinner is made of the IT system to implement it. The EU postponed the legislation by 6 months because of Covid. It's unfortunate the the UK guvmint didn't do the same thing.

The reason for these changes is a UK/EU wide problem of purchases from non UK/EU suppliers, particularly China, not having VAT charged or paid. The VAT is evaded for 3 reasons - 1) fraudulently stating that the imported item is a gift, 2) fraudulently stating that the value of the imported item is under the VAT limit (£13 in UK), 3) the sheer number of low value items coming into the UK/EU from China meaning that customs cannot check them all. This new regime only applies to items with a value less than £135/€150. The previous £13 VAT free threshold has gone in the UK and the similar thresholds EU wide (EU state chosen, but must be below €22) goes in July.

I suspect that the biggest impact will be on cheap tat bought from China on ebay (if it's enforced), because the volumes are huge and the Chinese suppliers may be unwilling or unable to register and participate in the scheme. I expect that suppliers will moan about it at first but business find a way when there's profit to be made. We are only 2 working days into the scheme so it's not surprising that it's not all up and running yet.

From the EU website ec.europa.eu...

Unlike today, when the import scheme is used, the seller will charge and collect the VAT at the point of sale to EU customers and declare and pay that VAT globally to the Member State of identification in the OSS. These goods will then benefit from a VAT exemption upon importation, allowing a fast release at customs.

The introduction of the import scheme goes hand in hand with the abolition of the current VAT exemption for goods in small consignment of a value of up to EUR 22. This is also in line with the commitment to apply the destination principle for VAT.

 

[Iliade]

Right now we cannot get parcels from Europe by road. So the only option is pay more than £100 to get a 10kg parcel from France flown here. Ludicrous!

 

[JumbleDuck]

And us cruisers in Europe are have the same problems with buy stuff from back in the UK .
Extra cost or a sorry cant do,
What a fu@k up,
It now means we going to have to have parts sent to a UK address and pay uk vat then when back fly them back out with the possibility of having to pay import dues and vat a second time.
Well I can only say we got what we deserved.

Genuine question - what sort of things have to be bought in the UK and can't be obtained in the EU?

 

[sailaboutvic]

Genuine question - what sort of things have to be bought in the UK and can't be obtained in the EU?

Most stuff you can buy in the EU , but here à good example, I need parts from parts 4 engine and now it's not only going to cost more ( having to pay uk vat ) it also mean I going to have them sent to my son and then repacked and sent out .
Plus not sure what will happen when they arrive if more duties have to be paid plus vat .

 

[sailaboutvic]

No duty will be payable on goods between EU and UK, either way.

The same legislation requiring non UK businesses selling to consumers in the UK to register for and collect UK VAT is also coming to the EU in July. That means UK businesses selling to EU consumers will have to do the same thing. I expect the large UK internet chandlers will do just that. Whether small suppliers do it I think depends on how much of a dog's dinner is made of the IT system to implement it. The EU postponed the legislation by 6 months because of Covid. It's unfortunate the the UK guvmint didn't do the same thing.

The reason for these changes is a UK/EU wide problem of purchases from non UK/EU suppliers, particularly China, not having VAT charged or paid. The VAT is evaded for 3 reasons - 1) fraudulently stating that the imported item is a gift, 2) fraudulently stating that the value of the imported item is under the VAT limit (£13 in UK), 3) the sheer number of low value items coming into the UK/EU from China meaning that customs cannot check them all. This new regime only applies to items with a value less than £135/€150. The previous £13 VAT free threshold has gone in the UK and the similar thresholds EU wide (EU state chosen, but must be below €22) goes in July.

I suspect that the biggest impact will be on cheap tat bought from Chine on ebay (if it's enforced), because the volumes are huge and the Chinese suppliers may be unwilling or unable to register and participate in the scheme. I expect that suppliers will moan about it at first but business find a way when there's profit to be made. We are only 2 working days into the scheme so it's not surprising that it's not all up and running yet.

From the EU website ec.europa.eu...

Well I tryed and order some thing from Amazon uk , when it come to pay there a notice to say there maybe extra duties to pay . They also charged me Vat on the goods .
Which mean if I went ahead with the order once they arrive the carrier will ask for duties and vat .
Other have had the same problem with good sitting at dhl and ups refusing to deliver until they have payment .

 

[AngusMcDoon]

jumbleduck said:

Genuine question - what sort of things have to be bought in the UK and can't be obtained in the EU?

Not much I expect, although I believe we have the international monopoly on cast bronze church bells and host the only wasabi grower in Europe. For an English only speaking ex-pat I expect it is easier to use a website in English.

Fresh, British grown Wasabi | Grow Your Own | The Wasabi Company

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Well I tryed and order some thing from Amazon uk , when it come to pay there a notice to say there maybe extra duties to pay . They also charged me Vat on the goods .
Which mean if I went ahead with the order once they arrive the carrier will ask for duties and vat .
Other have had the same problem with good sitting at dhl and ups refusing to deliver until they have payment .

It's 2 days into a new regime that was agreed on only a couple of weeks ago. It's not going to work yet.

 

[dgadee]

Most stuff you can buy in the EU , but here à good example, I need parts from parts 4 engine and now it's not only going to cost more ( having to pay uk vat ) it also mean I going to have them sent to my son and then repacked and sent out .
Plus not sure what will happen when they arrive if more duties have to be paid plus vat .

"Parts 4 Engines are worldwide distributors of replacement parts for Perkins and Volvo Penta engines...."

If they don't know to send it to you, no-one will.