Updated service to our UK customers 16.07.2021 – Posted in: News

Hello UK, I’ve got some good news for you! We have finally managed to get our act together as regards service to our UK based clientele. I am so sorry for the temporary Brexit disruption; things are finally settled so that our niche online market place complies with the new (and quite complicated) UK import policies, but doesn’t burden anyone with excess bureaucracy. Here are the highlights of our updated Terms and Conditions page:

  1. If you are a UK based business, please provide us with your VAT number in your order information on our updated checkout page. In this way, we can make your order VAT exempt and proceed with it as business to business sales applying reverse charge procedure. You as a business customer will in this case be responsible for accounting for any VAT due on your VAT Return to HMRC. Needless to say, please use this opportunity if you have a VAT registered business within the EU area – the same reverse charge procedure applies to you as well.
  2. No business? No VAT number? In the UK? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with a new minimum order threshold of 150€ (£135) for our private UK customers. We make use of the regulations regarding online marketplaces, goods that are outside of the UK, and consignments valued at more than £135. Here, normal VAT and customs rules will apply on importation of the goods into Great Britain from outside the UK or into Northern Ireland. So, we will send your order tax free and you will take care of VAT and customs (if applicable) when your shipment arrives at the UK border. As we sell mostly books, for which the UK VAT rate is whopping 0%, the expected extra payments are not very much.

So, this is it in short. Please refer to the HMRC instructions if you want to learn more about the fascinating world of international tax policies 😀

  • https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-and-overseas-goods-sold-to-customers-in-the-uk-using-online-marketplaces#goods-that-are-outside-of-the-uk-at-the-point-of-sale
  • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-e-commerce-package/eu-vat-e-commerce-package

The feature image of this blog post is Castle Howard, Yorkshire, by Sir John Vanbrugh from British Architects and Craftsmen – A Survey of Taste, Design, and Style during Three Centuries 1600 to 1830 by Sacheverell Sitwell (M.T. Batsford Ltd, 1945). The book is in our catalogue, if you are interested.