Charging VAT for overseas client?

[BillT]

Hi guys,

Happy new year. We are VAT registered and I'm just wondering do we supposed to charge VAT to clients outside UK (US, Japan)?

Cheers for your help again.

Bill.

[MailOrderCo]

No i don't think you do, but they are supposed to charge you VAT if you brought something from outside the UK and you are in the UK.

I am sure James Smith will offer you a concrete answer.

[JamieM]

Hi Bill,

Happy New Year! Hope you had a good one.

There are some rules specific to the supply of electronic services (assuming this is what you are supplying) but I don't think you have to charge VAT providing the customers are outside the EC.

This article might be of some interest:

http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l31044.htm

but I would suggest phoning the HMRC NAS to check on the up to date rules.

Speak soon!

[brighton_belle]

Hi BillT

No you don't charge VAT to customers in US or Japan as long as you are delivering the goods there. If you are billing them there, but delivering goods on their behalf to the UK then you do charge VAT.

If you are supplying electronics check the rules...they are changing I believe.

Check HMRC website for rules re: Place of Supply and also phone their helpline if there is anything else you need to know...sometimes, they are surprisingly helpful

Hope this helps

brighton_belle

[BillT]

Thanks very much for the advice! I'll definitely check out the link and call HMRC.

Bill.