We all pay VAT on purchases from within our own countries and buyers within the EU have always paid VAT when buying from other EU countries, it was collected by the retailer and paid to their government as it was their VAT. The price we've paid has always included tax. What's changed for the UK is that the VAT is now paid by the retailer to the UK to HMRC for purchases up to 135 euros. Anything over and the VAT is collected here, payable before you can collect your item (as it is with import duty on USA items for example)
What's also happening now is that couriers are asking for the VAT when delivering and for the extra work they're adding their own fee, so the only additional cost is the handling fee, but the perception is we're paying more because we now pay VAT 'at the door' upon delivery. What we have to check is that we're not being double charged for VAT...
Without doubt it's put additional burden on EU sellers and I can see that some won't send items to the UK until it's sorted out - if it is...
I'm sorry I misunderstood you I thought you were saying you paid UK VAT on top previously.
You are correct there does seem to be a misconception that UK importers are being hard done by in paying VAT. Part of the 'paper work' I had to complete was assurances the product was leaving the EU and removing the German 19% VAT
The VAT is not new, we've always paid VAT on items bought from the EU. The way it's collected has changed and as you've said is now creating more work for the retailer. Import fees shouldn't apply to a purchase under 135.00 euros
UK couriers can also add their own handling fees
Interesting, Deutsche Post wouldn't accept it without 12% import being paid. I guess there is still an amount of confusion and until it settles down I just can't justify the time dealing with the UK I know a lot of EU company's are doing the same, it shouldn't cost us time which is ultimately money, to deal with another country taxes.
You should not have been paying VAT the UK was included in the EU VAT Regime the UK like the EU only paid VAT on items from non EU states, Andorra, Switzerland, the Channel Islands, Norway, America etc.
Two weeks ago I shipped a €45 (£39.50) part out to the UK with €12 (£10.40) postage,
UK import was 12% on the above and then 20% VAT on that; so £39.50 + £10.40 + 12% = £55.88 + 20% = £67.06!
And to cap it off, somehow the UK & EU have made it the exporters responsibility to collect and then to pay the HMRC!
The additional work took me nearly 30mins!
I charge myself out at an hourly rate of €50 an hour, by rights I should have added at least €25 on for my time, and of course that would be added on before the import duty and VAT which would have brought the total to £100.66!!! for a £39.50 part!!!
So, my simple conclusion is; I just won’t deal with the UK in future.
I will share a couple of field tricks for removing blind bearings, first is a through bolt or anchor bolt to get grip on the bearing bore a bit of heat and some visegrips or even better a slide hammer 'Et Voila!'
You mentioned a blow torch I very rarely resort to an open flame on ally cases usually finding a good electric hot air gun is enough.
The second is much more fun and has amazed me in its efficiency in the past freeing the most stubborn of bearings! Pump some grease into the bearing shaft hole. Find a piece of shaft that will fits well inside the bore and hold it against the grease (a piece of wooden dowel will work metal is obviously favourite). Cover the shaft and grease with a rag and tap (don't hit) it into the bore with a hammer you will force the grease behind the bearing and the hydraulic force transmitted by the grease will drive the bearing out of the hole Jobs a gooden!
The UK aluminium tank was NOT made by Bultaco it was made by a UK company called A. J. Homer and Sons and sold as a 'Homerlite alloy competition tank' https://gracesguide.co.uk/A._J._Homer_and_Sons
Alloy spike nipples
in Bultaco
Posted
I'm sorry I misunderstood you I thought you were saying you paid UK VAT on top previously.
You are correct there does seem to be a misconception that UK importers are being hard done by in paying VAT. Part of the 'paper work' I had to complete was assurances the product was leaving the EU and removing the German 19% VAT