Advice needed on shipping to the UK? Do I have to pay VAT

[triber]

I have an expensive pattern to mail to the UK. It will be about $90 Canadian. I am planning on sending it with tracking, but I find confusing info on the internet on having to have a VAT number and paying VAT.

Does anyone else have info on this?

[marnotom! · Accepted solution]

Just mail it off with the same customs form and information as you would use if it were destined for the United States.

Taxes and duties are always the importer's (buyer's) responsibility unless they work out something differently with the exporter (seller).

[triber]

Thank you, I was confused about the VAT instructions on the internet, it said senders need to have a VAT number etc. It said if not, it could be stopped a the border and returned to the seller.

[soap-market-and-co]

would you please provide the link of the page that is providing that information?

[marnotom!]

I suspect that requirement is for shipments originating in other EU countries.

[triber]

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@soap-market-and-co wrote:
would you please provide the link of the page that is providing that information?

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I looked at so many sites, here are a couple

https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad

[marnotom!]

I don't see anything on either of those pages that pertain to sellers outside of the EU except that they should fill out customs forms correctly if they're not making the buyer do it.

[triber]

Thanks, I found it all very confusing, I am just going to ship it using tracked package and put in the full cost of the item. I have explained to the buyer that there my be taxes she will have to pay.

[soap-market-and-co]

the first page is for UK business who make importation. We are not concerned by that as ebay seller and your clients are not concerned neither since they are not importing goods for business when they buy from you.

[triber]

Thanks, I found it very confusing. I often mail letter mail to the UK, but I stopped mailing packages because of the shipping cost, and I have never mailed anything of much value before.