Buyer wants a VAT receipt, but we're selling from a personal account

[cali-republic]

We sell on eBay using a personal account (Not this one), as we get 80% off fees every two weeks, so we de-list everything, every two weeks, then relist everything, it allows us to pay less fees (We consulted eBay about it prior to setting up, they said it's fine).

Our main business website is VAT registered. We recently sold some construction equipment, the buyer wants a VAT receipt, but as the payment was made to eBay, and then eBay paid us, how do I go about sending the buyer a VAT receipt...? 

Thanks in advance 

[lacemaker3]

If you haven't provided your VAT number on the account that sold the item, then eBay collected the VAT and submitted it, it was not submitted against your VAT number. The buyer needs the correct number that was actually used for their VAT payment, or their customs will reject it.

You are located in the UK, was this shipment sent to somewhere in the EU? Did you put eBay's VAT/IOSS numbers on the package or your own? It should have been eBay's numbers. (I'm not sure why a UK customer would need a VAT receipt.)

This is what eBay says you should tell your buyer to do if they are asked to pay VAT again on an order where VAT was already collected by eBay. The buyer's invoice should be available through their purchase history page, or on the order details for the purchase.

https://export.ebay.com/en/fees-and-payments/taxes-and-accounting/vat-eu-2021/

... For transactions where eBay has collected VAT, eBay will issue an invoice to the buyers confirming the VAT amount charged and showing eBay’s IOSS number. If the buyer is asked to pay VAT again on import of the goods into the EU, please inform the buyer to check the invoice and share it with customs. You can also share the order details with the buyer where eBay’s IOSS number and the VAT amount collected by eBay will be visible.

[woodrowmo-30]

eBay automatically generates an invoice for each transaction. The buyer can access this invoice from their eBay account. The eBay invoice should include details such as the item description, total amount paid, and any applicable taxes or fees.
Communicate with the buyer through the eBay messaging system. Acknowledge their request for a VAT receipt and inform them that the invoice generated by eBay serves as the official record of the transaction.
Clarify to the buyer that as the transaction was processed through eBay, eBay is responsible for providing the official invoice. Explain that eBay acts as a payment intermediary and that their invoice reflects the details of the transaction.
If the buyer insists on a VAT receipt directly from you, consider reaching out to eBay customer support for guidance. They may be able to provide additional assistance or clarification on how to handle such requests.

[geertjan-paypal]

I am worried that the statement above is no longer true in 2025. I know Ebay used to provide invoices, with IOSS information. On one of my purchases, today I received notification from DHL they were looking for this document. However, if I look at the "details of my purchase", then the link with the IOSS document is no longer there. I now don't know what to do except wait.

I wish Ebay International Shipping would be contactable for situations like this.

[geertjan-paypal]

And now I see I need to add something. An USA seller, selling abroad, will typically be asked to send the item to the "Ebay International Shipping Center" in Illinois. At Ebay, they check the item, do the customs, pay the taxes, and then send the item to the buyer, "Delivery Duty Paid" (DDP).

It does mean that as a buyer, I pay the VAT to Ebay, they arrange the whole customs thing for me, and when the item is sent to me I no longer need to mess with customs. With procedures getting more and more difficult, I can see why Ebay does this.

In my case however, Ebay did charge me VAT (roughly $200 for taxes alone, we're not talking peanuts) and now the shipper is asking me for proof the item was sold with VAT already paid by sender (which is Ebay, not the seller of the transaction). Without proof, that is, without IOSS document, I cannot prove I already paid VAT and it would mean I'd need to pay VAT twice, *plus* a handling fee. It would set me back an additional $250, and that is not happening.

In the Ebay system, I can only contact the seller, not Ebay International Shipping. And I have asked the seller to alert Ebay on my behalf. But because this is a three-party transaction now (seller, buyer, Ebay intl shipping) I very much would like Ebay to be reachable in case transactions go faul. I hope this clears up but the signs are not promising.

[kh-cathy]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.