Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Charged vat

30 replies

lucie333 · 18/07/2023 17:54

I went toy shop with my son, & they added £8 vat on top of my total. I've never paid vat separately it's always included in the price of the items already. Do some shops charge separately?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Cantthinkofadifferentname · 22/04/2025 20:46

As an aside, kids toys are standard rated for VAT.
Books (any printed books) are zero rated
Kids clothes up to around age 12 are zero rated

tommika · 22/04/2025 17:28

Kebh1990 · 22/04/2025 14:18

I bought a toy from Europe because of a promotion.
i though kids toys are 0% VAT.
there was a delay in delivery so i went to check and seems I may have some charges from customs incoming.

Can you shed some light on this ? can i refute the charge if it’s a toy?

the value is 200£ . I don’t want to pay 40£more, it’s would be cheaper to buy in uk.

If you are charged import VAT and you disagree you can challenge and claim it back

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-customs-dutyimport-vat-relating-to-imports-by-post-bor286

BUT - To do so you must first pay it
If you choose not to pay then your item may be destroyed or returned. The seller is not obliged to refund you - they won’t if it is confiscated, they may refund for a return but are likely to keep the postage and charge a restocking fee, giving you a partial refund

As importer you are responsible for the import
(the sender completes the customs declaration but you as importer are responsible for what is on the declaration)

Report incorrect Customs Duty or VAT on items imported by post (BOR286)

Use form BOR286 if you believe the Customs Duty or import VAT was wrongly calculated on an item you imported by post using Royal Mail or Parcelforce.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-customs-dutyimport-vat-relating-to-imports-by-post-bor286

KrisAkabusi · 22/04/2025 15:15

I've had a look. There's a lot of variation, but over £135 worth of toys are generally charged a 20% customs charge that is completely separate to the VAT rate in the UK. There may also be a third country charge of 4% depending on what exactly the toys are.
You're getting off lightly. Some items are charged the 20% customs charge AND the 20% VAT rate.

KrisAkabusi · 22/04/2025 15:07

Kebh1990 · 22/04/2025 14:18

I bought a toy from Europe because of a promotion.
i though kids toys are 0% VAT.
there was a delay in delivery so i went to check and seems I may have some charges from customs incoming.

Can you shed some light on this ? can i refute the charge if it’s a toy?

the value is 200£ . I don’t want to pay 40£more, it’s would be cheaper to buy in uk.

Brexit. There's loads of import charges that didn't apply to purchases from the EU before it.

InveterateWineDrinker · 22/04/2025 14:25

Kebh1990 · 22/04/2025 14:18

I bought a toy from Europe because of a promotion.
i though kids toys are 0% VAT.
there was a delay in delivery so i went to check and seems I may have some charges from customs incoming.

Can you shed some light on this ? can i refute the charge if it’s a toy?

the value is 200£ . I don’t want to pay 40£more, it’s would be cheaper to buy in uk.

You have to pay import VAT on anything you bring in from outside the UK unless it's a gift worth less than £39.

It's a Brexit dividend.

Kebh1990 · 22/04/2025 14:18

I bought a toy from Europe because of a promotion.
i though kids toys are 0% VAT.
there was a delay in delivery so i went to check and seems I may have some charges from customs incoming.

Can you shed some light on this ? can i refute the charge if it’s a toy?

the value is 200£ . I don’t want to pay 40£more, it’s would be cheaper to buy in uk.

Elvis1956 · 18/07/2023 18:18

A perfectly normal receipt. It splits the vat at the bottom so that if you have bought the items for your business and your business is vat registered, you can off set that 20% against the amount of vat you need to send hmrc

tommika · 18/07/2023 18:14

The top half of the receipt with prices per item is the correct VAT inclusive figure, adding up to £68
Then the bottom section shows VAT exclusive, and a break down of 20% and 0 rated VAT

For retail sales the item prices on display should have stated the full VAT inclusive price per item
But if they are wholesalers or market to the trade then they can display VAT exclusive (and make it clear)

Contractually the sale is legal as the contract and agreed price is at the point of sale
But Trading Standards would be interested in unfair price marking

Original poster
lucie333 · 18/07/2023 18:13

DelilahBucket · 18/07/2023 18:09

Whatever the "none scan VAT" bit is at £6.99, it will have nothing to do with Value Added Tax, because as you can see on the receipt, that is recorded separately. What did you buy that cost £6.99?

I've just went through the bag and looked at everything he got and he must have put a toy car in the basket without me noticing 🤣 it was just a little one so didn't have barcode so they have probably needed to type the price in! I feel stupid now 🤣

Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
Cheesusisgrate · 18/07/2023 18:13

Oh i missed that no scan vat! Sorry

Howdoesitworkagain · 18/07/2023 18:12

Nothing unusual here. They haven’t added VAT on separately. They’ve given you a normal receipt that’s got a VAT breakdown at the bottom. If you add up what’s at the bottom, you’ll see it equals the total of all the prices of what you’ve bought.

Yogibearspicnic · 18/07/2023 18:11

How many items did you buy? It says 9 items in total, including the 'Non-scan VAT' at £6.99. Is it possible you purchased 9 items but 1 didn't scan properly so they put it through the till as that?

Original poster
lucie333 · 18/07/2023 18:10

Thanks guys! I'll know for future that this is normal! 😊

OP posts:
Aprilx · 18/07/2023 18:09

The £6.99 looks to be simply an additional item than didn’t scan properly but is subject to VAT, it is not pure VAT itself.

DelilahBucket · 18/07/2023 18:09

Whatever the "none scan VAT" bit is at £6.99, it will have nothing to do with Value Added Tax, because as you can see on the receipt, that is recorded separately. What did you buy that cost £6.99?

Original poster
lucie333 · 18/07/2023 18:09

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 18/07/2023 18:06

Looks like a normal receipt but impossible to say as we don't know what it said on the shelf.

Places like costco always display ex vat figures but most normal shops show vat inc figures in the UK

The prices stickers were the price as each item states on receipt, he had £60 to spend so I was calculating as I went along so was confused when the total was different but I didnt question it, it's probably correct!

OP posts:
Cheesusisgrate · 18/07/2023 18:08

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 18/07/2023 18:06

Looks like a normal receipt but impossible to say as we don't know what it said on the shelf.

Places like costco always display ex vat figures but most normal shops show vat inc figures in the UK

Costco displays both, but the vat included is smaller

Cantthinkofadifferentname · 18/07/2023 18:07

It's because you have mixed items. The leggings and baseball cap are children's so zero rated, totalling 13.98. The rest is taxable (vatable). I'd guess the price on the shelves includes vat but your receipt splits it out

Thunderpunt · 18/07/2023 18:06

You pay VAT on lots of items - the only difference here is that that you have noticed it's been split out on the receipt.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 18/07/2023 18:06

Looks like a normal receipt but impossible to say as we don't know what it said on the shelf.

Places like costco always display ex vat figures but most normal shops show vat inc figures in the UK

Cheesusisgrate · 18/07/2023 18:04

Vat is usually displayed separately on receipts

Original poster
lucie333 · 18/07/2023 18:03

It was £6.99 vat not £8 but this is my receipt

Charged vat
OP posts:
Starlitexpress · 18/07/2023 18:03

Sorry, not the point, but VAT on £10 is £1.67.

Original poster
lucie333 · 18/07/2023 18:00

PriamFarrl · 18/07/2023 17:59

Sometimes they will split it on the receipt but the price remains the same.

So the shelf ticket says £10
and then the receipt says:
Toy £8
VAT £2

Total £10.

This wasn't the case, it was added on to the bill on top of all the other items, let me try find the receipt and post a picture of it !

OP posts:
Elvis1956 · 18/07/2023 17:59

Were you in a normal uk, shop. Not an airport or Costco or other limited access shop?

Swipe left for the next trending thread