Is amazon.co.uk now charging VAT on products to Ireland?

Famous Blue Raincoat

I just bought something (a medical product) on UK Amazon and I noticed extra money added on under "VAT". I checked previous invoices from last year and there was no such VAT at all on products bought on UK Amazon. For instance, "Total Before VAT:£81.93 VAT:£0.00" in an invoice from 6 months ago. Today I got "Total Before VAT: £24.28. VAT: £4.86 Total: £29.14". If this VAT charge is the new norm that product is now a full 20% more expensive because of Brexit, so it changes the economics of shopping on Amazon.co.uk fundamentally.

However, to complicate things, on an order for coffee beans that I also made today the price was "Total Before VAT: £22.00 VAT: £0.00 Total: £22.00"

What exactly is going on? Also, if Amazon is now charging all its Irish customers VAT now, is it the British or Irish state which benefits from it? For the future, can I use ParcelMotel in the North to avoid the VAT charge? Lastly, is there any chance of Amazon setting up an Irish website, or is there another Amazon website that is cheaper than the UK website and its VAT is?

wally79

Famous Blue Raincoat wrote: »

I just bought something (a medical product) on UK Amazon and I noticed extra money added on under "VAT". I checked previous invoices from last year and there was no such VAT at all on products bought on UK Amazon. For instance, "Total Before VAT:£81.93 VAT:£0.00" in an invoice from 6 months ago. Today I got "Total Before VAT: £24.28. VAT: £4.86 Total: £29.14". If this VAT charge is the new norm that product is now a full 20% more expensive because of Brexit, so it changes the economics of shopping on Amazon.co.uk fundamentally.

However, to complicate things, on an order for coffee beans that I also made today the price was "Total Before VAT: £22.00 VAT: £0.00 Total: £22.00"

What exactly is going on? Also, if Amazon is now charging all its Irish customers VAT now, is it the British or Irish state which benefits from it? For the future, can I use ParcelMotel in the North to avoid the VAT charge? Lastly, is there any chance of Amazon setting up an Irish website, or is there another Amazon website that is cheaper than the UK website and its VAT is?

Was the item with VAT shipped from a non EU location? (And non UK)

caff

They always added on vat, not all products have vat on them though.

nsa0bupkd3948x

They've been charging VAT for as long as I can remember. What was the item with zero VAT? Could be a zero rated item or more likely a third party seller who isn't VAT registered.

muffler

As others have said they have always charged VAT. Just to add that they charge VAT at the 23% rate for all orders to ROI

Famous Blue Raincoat

The £81.93 order that didn't have VAT was composed of 2 books, 2 bags of coffee beans and a Samsung charger. No VAT on any of it (last October). It was from three different suppliers on Amazon.co.uk: Amazon EU S.a.r.L., Cna ltd and S & T Wholesale.

muffler

and you got it shipped directly here to ROI?

No VAT on books in the UK

Famous Blue Raincoat

muffler wrote: »

and you got it shipped directly here to ROI?

No VAT on books in the UK

Just went back to check and, yes, that £80 plus order above was shipped to Dublin last October without any VAT.

muffler

Famous Blue Raincoat wrote: »

Just went back to check and, yes, that £80 plus order above was shipped to Dublin last October without any VAT.

I honestly have no idea what happened with that order. Im an Amazon customer since 2005 and have placed numerous orders with deliveries to both here and NI and I have always been charged VAT - 20% if order is delivered to NI and 23% to here.

There was a mistake made with your previous order but you can rest assured that VAT is not a new kickback from Brexit

muffler

Famous Blue Raincoat wrote: »

Just went back to check and, yes, that £80 plus order above was shipped to Dublin last October without any VAT.

A quick question...are you registered for VAT?

@£

I ordered vitamins on Amazon Co Uk today and noticed the exact same thing. Price on invoice was £18.75 then vat was added on @£;3.56 final total £22.31 .

I was also wondering about this...... then I figured previous invoices included the VAT whereas now they are giving a breakdown. Is this something to do with Brexit preparations?

bb12

they usually add the extra 3% vat to the item price in your basket once you proceed to checkout...assuming its an item that is not vat exempt.

nsa0bupkd3948x

Famous Blue Raincoat wrote: »

The £81.93 order that didn't have VAT was composed of 2 books, 2 bags of coffee beans and a Samsung charger. No VAT on any of it (last October). It was from three different suppliers on Amazon.co.uk: Amazon EU S.a.r.L., Cna ltd and S & T Wholesale.

Do you have links to the items - I'm intrigued as to what happened.

rubadub

Famous Blue Raincoat wrote: »

, if Amazon is now charging all its Irish customers VAT now, is it the British or Irish state which benefits from it?

We get the VAT, if a company does over a certain amount of business they have to pay Irish VAT. So a small seller on amazon may not have to.

This is nothing to do with brexit. They make mistakes sometimes, e.g. a member here got refunded VAT after being wrongly charged it on dried milk powder.

We do not have the same vat on some items as the UK. e.g. in the UK cycling helmets have no VAT.

If you are using parcelmotel etc then you would also not be paying Irish VAT.

nompere

rubadub wrote: »

If you are using parcelmotel etc then you would also not be paying Irish VAT.

But you will still be paying UK VAT.

Darc19

Coffee (beans) is 0% vat in Ireland (as well as all everyday basic foodstuffs)

Books is 0% vat in Ireland

Amazon deduct uk vat from items and then apply irish vat to the goods.

The vat is paid to revenue here.


Some marketplace sellers (especially mobile accessories) are based outside the EU, so vat will not be applied.

NuMarvel

I've noticed that they've started applying a 9.6% VAT rate to graphic novels, when in the past it's been a 0% rate. As others have said Amazon will apply the Irish VAT rate to items being sent here, but as far as I know, the Irish VAT on graphic novels hasn't changed.

I've raised this with their online help agents, who tell me their VAT team will be in touch with me shortly to confirm the proper rate and to make any necessary adjustments. I'm not going to hold my breath, but I'll let you know how it goes.