Yes, of course, but it's not so simple to challenge an organisation like EBay!Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:35 pm"EBay, unfortunately, don't seem to have got it right. They (not the sellers) are collecting VAT on small items (below £135) imported from the EU, but they also seem to be including books in this."
That should be challenged, to see if it's an honest mistake. If they attempt justification, then at least that gives more information. VAT rules have always been complicated.
New in Chess & BREXIT
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Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
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Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
Where does Informant come from? It used to be Serbia, but I think they switched to Cyprus during the sanctions. Did they ever switch back?Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:02 pmThe price of Chess Informants (I have a standing order for 4 a year) appears to have leapt up as well, presumably this is related.
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Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
I believe they went back to being Belgrade based after the sanctions ended, but would have no idea exactly when.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
I have, however, informed HMRC so we shall see what they say - but presumably not for several weeks (I was also a civil servant at one time )John Moore wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:57 pmYes, of course, but it's not so simple to challenge an organisation like EBay!Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:35 pm"EBay, unfortunately, don't seem to have got it right. They (not the sellers) are collecting VAT on small items (below £135) imported from the EU, but they also seem to be including books in this."
That should be challenged, to see if it's an honest mistake. If they attempt justification, then at least that gives more information. VAT rules have always been complicated.
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Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
"Yes, of course, but it's not so simple to challenge an organisation like EBay!
I have, however, informed HMRC so we shall see what they say - but presumably not for several weeks (I was also a civil servant at one time"
True - any big company thinks it can do what it likes, and frequently can.
Last time I contacted HMRC, they took 6 weeks to answer (but they were helpful). It will probably take longer at the moment due to the Covid problem. I never really got involved in VAT, although I was in an EU meeting as scientific expert for UK Customs and there was a brief discussion on, "Is a Jaffa cake a cake or a biscuit?", where they eventually reached a decision, then reversed it about 10 years later...
I have, however, informed HMRC so we shall see what they say - but presumably not for several weeks (I was also a civil servant at one time"
True - any big company thinks it can do what it likes, and frequently can.
Last time I contacted HMRC, they took 6 weeks to answer (but they were helpful). It will probably take longer at the moment due to the Covid problem. I never really got involved in VAT, although I was in an EU meeting as scientific expert for UK Customs and there was a brief discussion on, "Is a Jaffa cake a cake or a biscuit?", where they eventually reached a decision, then reversed it about 10 years later...
Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
Presumably, but how so?Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:02 pmThe price of Chess Informants (I have a standing order for 4 a year) appears to have leapt up as well, presumably this is related.
Chess Informant is based in Belgrade, Serbia.
Serbia has already applied to join the EU but still has a long way to go to get in.
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Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
And what was the eventual answer to that one, Kevin?Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 3:35 pm
Is a Jaffa cake a cake or a biscuit?", where they eventually reached a decision, then reversed it about 10 years later...
Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
Maybe an extension of -John McKenna wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:05 pmPresumably, but how so?Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:02 pmThe price of Chess Informants (I have a standing order for 4 a year) appears to have leapt up as well, presumably this is related.
Chess Informant is based in Belgrade, Serbia.
Serbia has already applied to join the EU but still has a long way to go to get in.
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https://sahovski.com/Chess-Informant-14 ... p239593351
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Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
Jaffa cakes are now cakes...
https://www.kerseys.co.uk/jaffa-cakes-c ... ed%20cakes.
might help! The previous final decision was "biscuit", but after a while, the courts reversed it. (It was about VAT liability.)
I also saw the start of the "Is a Pringle a crisp?" argument. Manufacturer said "No - it's a "shaped potato snack" which was (surprise, surprise) a lower rate of duty.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyl ... ract%20VAT.
https://www.kerseys.co.uk/jaffa-cakes-c ... ed%20cakes.
might help! The previous final decision was "biscuit", but after a while, the courts reversed it. (It was about VAT liability.)
I also saw the start of the "Is a Pringle a crisp?" argument. Manufacturer said "No - it's a "shaped potato snack" which was (surprise, surprise) a lower rate of duty.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyl ... ract%20VAT.
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Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
Serbia quite possibly charges more for countries which are not in the EU?John McKenna wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:05 pmPresumably, but how so?Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:02 pmThe price of Chess Informants (I have a standing order for 4 a year) appears to have leapt up as well, presumably this is related.
Chess Informant is based in Belgrade, Serbia.
Serbia has already applied to join the EU but still has a long way to go to get in.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
"Food" is zero rated for VAT, but there are borders drawn as to what counts as food. Crisps, biscuits, chocolate and soft drinks don't count, but cakes do. Hence the Jaffa Cakes row,Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:48 pmThe previous final decision was "biscuit", but after a while, the courts reversed it. (It was about VAT liability.)
Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
From their website -Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:56 pmSerbia quite possibly charges more for countries which are not in the EU?John McKenna wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:05 pmPresumably, but how so?Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:02 pmThe price of Chess Informants (I have a standing order for 4 a year) appears to have leapt up as well, presumably this is related.
Chess Informant is based in Belgrade, Serbia.
Serbia has already applied to join the EU but still has a long way to go to get in.
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Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
But does a Jaffa cake count as one of your five fruit and veg per day !
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Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
Well, it depends whether or not you eat the whole packet.E Michael White wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 5:41 pmBut does a Jaffa cake count as one of your five fruit and veg per day !
The thing with these VAT cases is that the shopper never gets the VAT back, it’s always the producer/retailer, so if the £1 pack of Jaffa cakes is held to be VATable they net 83p, if not they net £1. Whether the market would bear a retail price of £1.20 is not clear.
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Re: New in Chess & BREXIT
Reading all this makes me relieved to be in NZ. Apart from a few well-defined exceptions (notably residential rents, and provision of financial services), our Goods & Services Tax (GST) is levied on absolutely everything, and at a uniform rate. Compliance can still be onerous enough, but at least we can be sure that as little as practicable of the tax-take goes on supporting a bloated bureaucracy for administering the thing and having to interpret and re-interpret all those confusing rules.
"The chess-board is the world ..... the player on the other side is hidden from us ..... he never overlooks a mistake, or makes the smallest allowance for ignorance."
(He doesn't let you resign and start again, either.)
(He doesn't let you resign and start again, either.)