The Recycler
  • Katun Masthead Nov 2024
  • Biuromax Masthead web banner March 2024
  • Ambiente 2025 Masthead
  • G&G Masthead August 2024

Online marketplaces evict overseas sellers

January 14, 2019

Online retailers such as Amazon and eBay have evicted thousands of overseas sellers following a VAT-related crackdown by HMRC.

As the BBC reports, the overseas sellers – the majority hailing from China – “sold items including British flags, phones and fake eyelashes but evaded VAT”.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has a practice of sending notices to sites if they feature the ware of businesses “failing to pay the correct VAT”.

So far, 4,600 sellers have been discovered, spread across seven sites – among them eBay, Amazon and Etsy. These sites, which have “signed a special agreement” can be “pursued” by HMRC if they continue to harbour such sellers.

These new regulations were instituted in 2016, with HMRC saying it had “recouped about £200 million ($256.7 million/€224 million) in VAT after sellers registered to pay VAT following an alert”.

Between 2015 and 2016, there were about 1,650 applications for VAT registration but since 2016 that figure has skyrocketed to 58,000.

“These figures show that HMRC, working closely with the major online marketplaces, is making real headway tackling this serious and damaging evasion,” said Mel Stride, financial secretary to the Treasury.

Overseas businesses selling products to UK consumers through online marketplaces “are required to register for VAT in the UK, charge VAT of 20 percent on sales and account for that VAT to HMRC.”

Categories : World Focus

Tags : Ecommerce HMRC UK VAT

  • Ink Tank No Web advert
  • G&G web advert October 2024
  • Apex Web ad Nov 2024
  • Cartridge Web Nov Web Banner
  • TN Core Nov Web advert
  • Static Control June 2022 Big & Bold Ad
  • GM Technology Nov Web Ad
  • Biuromax Nov 2024 Web Ad
  • IR Italiana Web ad January 2021
  • ITP Web ad January 2021
  • PCL Nov Web advert
  • CET Web ad December 2023
  • Mito Web banner June 2024
  • Zhono Web ad March 2024
  • HYB Web banner Jan 2024
  • denner UK Web Banner Jul 2024
  • Denner Feb 2024 Web Ad
  • denner UK Web Banner Jul 2024
  • CET Web ad December 2023
  • Zhono Web ad March 2024
  • Mito Web banner June 2024
  • HYB Web banner Jan 2024
  • PCL Nov Web advert
  • ITP Web ad January 2021
  • Denner Feb 2024 Web Ad
  • Mito Web banner June 2024
  • CET Web ad December 2023
  • denner UK Web Banner Jul 2024
  • Zhono Web ad March 2024
  • HYB Web banner Jan 2024
  • PCL Nov Web advert
  • Denner Feb 2024 Web Ad
  • ITP Web ad January 2021

The Recycler, Wittas House, Two Rivers, Station Lane, Witney, OX28 4BH, United Kingdom | Tel: +44 (0) 1993 899800 | Fax : +44 (0) 1993 226899
©2006-2023 The Recycler - Terms & Conditions - Privacy Policy including cookie use

Web design Dorset | Websites by Mark