4 ms·

Yes, this change means seller (or marketplace, if one is involved) is responsible for the VAT for consignments under £135 from US to UK, not recipient.

• short_sells_poo 6y ago
  To me it seems like the intention is to make the seller responsible for the VAT, but HMRC has really no ability to enforce this on overseas parties with no UK presence so it still ends up being the responsibility of the recipient and/or postal service. I imagine nothing will change for the customers, apart from some shops outright refusing to sell to them, and some other shops just ignoring the rule. Then the recipient will get the VAT bill + 8 pound surcharge from Royal Mail when they pick up the package.
  • AnssiH 6y ago
    > Then the recipient will get the VAT bill + 8 pound surcharge from Royal Mail when they pick up the package. I can't see how - Royal Mail / customs cannot distinguish "seller does not intend to report and remit VAT" packages from "seller intends to report and remit VAT properly" packages. I imagine that will be rectified at some point, though, maybe by requiring some sort of identifier on the packages (like in other countries operating similar schemes).