Is it Legal

[greek Wingtips]

VAT is only taken within the county you live in so how is it that LL based in the States have the legal right to take VAT from me at 20%, surley that not legal????? and do they give it back to the UK

anyone know???

[Theresa Tennyson]

12 minutes ago, greek Wingtips said:

VAT is only taken within the county you live in so how is it that LL based in the States have the legal right to take VAT from me at 20%, surley that not legal????? and do they give it back to the UK

anyone know???

 

Not only is it legal, it's required:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2014/05/15/european-vat-10-things-online-sellers-need-to-know-about-taxes-on-digital-goods-and-services/#4dca071dfa47

[LittleMe Jewell]

44 minutes ago, greek Wingtips said:

VAT is only taken within the county you live in so how is it that LL based in the States have the legal right to take VAT from me at 20%, surley that not legal????? and do they give it back to the UK

anyone know???

As to the second half of that, I'm quite sure that LL is giving the money to UK as they are legally required to.

[Bree Giffen]

Giving money to the crown? I thought we had a revolution! No taxation without representation!

[HarrisonMcKenzie]

6 hours ago, Bree Giffen said:

Giving money to the crown? I thought we had a revolution! No taxation without representation!

You don't get representation in British Parliament because your country left the British Empire via war.

The reason why LL has to take taxes from some customers is because they are required to do so due to international laws and trade agreements. If you're an American though, your dollars don't go to Britain, so it's a non-issue.

[greek Wingtips]

Ok seems we in the UK might have been shafted , below is something that I found but I will ring the tax office next week to confirm but looks like the UK gov't has screwed us

 

VAT on services

UK VAT may need to be charged on services performed in the USA or to clients based there, depending on the type of service supplied. This is a complex area, and there are specific rules for the following services:

• Services relating to land or property
• Services of short-term hire of means of transport
• Services involving physical performance and events. For example artistic, cultural, education and training, sporting, entertainment services, exhibitions, conferences, meetings
• Supplies of admission to artistic, cultural, education and training, sporting, entertainment events, exhibitions, conferences and meetings and services related to admissions
• Ancillary transport, valuation of/work on goods
• Restaurant and catering services
• Passenger transport
• Freight transport
• Intermediary services (generally agencies or brokers working for a commission)
• Training services supplied to overseas governments

Edited April 29, 2017 by greek Wingtips

[LittleMe Jewell]

5 hours ago, greek Wingtips said:

... but looks like the UK gov't has screwed us

That is what governments do.  

[Bree Giffen]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-supplying-digital-services-to-private-consumers/vat-businesses-supplying-digital-services-to-private-consumers

Here you go. It looks like the law is from 2015.

I read that VAT might see some changes because of Britain's exit from the EU but the VAT accounts for a good amount of taxes so it may not change at all.