Andy Burns wrote:
Chris Green wrote:

Now that we are no longer in the EU you should be able to buy items
from EU sellers without paying VAT. You will then be charged VAT
and/or duty on importing to the UK.

Not quite, no VAT by the EU country, but for items under £135 (same
threshold as duty) the EU seller should add UK VAT at point of sale and
then pay it to HMRC.

Ah, that's where the £135 threshold comes in. Does this apply when
both 'shopping in person' as well as mail-order/on-line?

Auchan for example used to sell 'VAT free' to out-of-EU buyers if you
presented your passport at the till. Are they going to have to
differentiate between UK and other non-EU buyers? It seems a bit
unlikely, and how is it going to be policed? For mail order it can be
seen marked in some way on the packaging but if I buy loads of stuff
all over France and bring it home in my car what's going to happen?
There's a "bring it home with you" duty-free allowance but does it
match up with that £135?

It was always thus when importing items from outside the EU, you paid
both VAT and duty (if applicable) on imports.

For items over £135 that's still the case, plus a handling fee by the
courier. At least the new system should avoid VAT handling fees under
the threshold.




--
Chris Green
·