UK VAT rip-off?

Debbie gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Hold on a mo - did you buy it FROM Amazon or FROM SimplyElectronics on the IoM, who just happened to be using Amazon as a shop window?

If the latter, then Amazon's got nothing to do with it.

The Isle of Man is part of the UK for VAT purposes, so they should still be charging you VAT.

He got it from a page like this:

Debbie gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

As I suspected. Amazon's got nothing to do with it.

Are you able to reclaim the VAT? If not then it makes no difference, if you can then does the amazon invoice show their vat number? if so then just calculate the vat amount and input that to your accounts for vat purposes, if the amazon invoice does not show their vat number then start asking amazon to supply a bill showing their vat number and the amount of vat charged.

"Mrcheerful" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

She didn't buy it from Amazon. She bought it from a company on the IoM.

Then whichever company supplies the bill is the relevant one to look at, if the OP is not vat registered then it all makes no odds anyway.

Before I ring the VAT helpline on Monday, I thought I might ask for opinions here ...

I purchased a Canon f4L 300mm IS lens for 1089.90 from Amazon.co.uk. Since they are a reputable UK retailer, I expected a VAT receipt to allow me to reclaim the VAT. Unfortunately, the receipt supplied just shows VAT as "blank". I have asked them for a new one, but no response so far.

The lens was actually supplied by their "partner" called SimplyElectronics, based on the Isle of Man. Their website shows the same lens as costing 949.95 i.e. pretty much ex-VAT for a company being outside of the UK.

To me, it looks like Amazon have charged and pocketed the VAT at my expense.

Any comments, or advice?

Thanks, Debs

If the op has stated she wants to claim the VAT back WHY are posters saying only matters if the op is VAT registered. Why would she say she wants to claim it back if she is NOT registered.

I did not see the OP say that he/she was trying to claim anything back, she will not be able to reclaim vat unless she is registered for vat. Therefore if she is not vat registered then it does not matter whether she gets a vat bill or not, she has just paid a total price, the one she agreed to before purchase. Or am I completely missing the actual question?

she says........I expected a VAT receipt to allow me to reclaim the VAT.

I am blind.!! she still only needs a vat number on the bill in order to reclaim the vat amount.

correct....

...

A VAT number alone is insufficient.

The amount of VAT needs to be shown.

Possibly. But the site has also in T&C:

"SimplyElectronics Limited

also (their caps):

"ALL TRANSACTIONS CONCLUDED THROUGH THE SITE, INCLUDING PURCHASES OF PRODUCTS ON THE SITE, SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE CONDUCTED UNDER AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION."