vat & export question!

[novustrading]

Hi,

just a quick question,

I have just recieved a order for some of our equipment and it will be shipped to Holland, he will transfer the money to me and then his truck will collect.

He asked me to forward a pro-forma invoice which I did, quoting him the price agreed + vat, he then called me and said because he is not based in england he does not have to pay vat as he is vat registered himself in Holland and provided all relevant details such as his vat and company number etc. He now wants me to resend the pro-forma with zero rated vat

However I thought that he should still pay vat as he is witin the EU?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Lee

[mumper]

I suggest you contact your local Customs and Excise office, they should be able to tell you.

[KM-Tiger]

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageLibrary_GuidesAndBusinessBriefs&propertyType=document&columns=1&id=HMCE_CL_001215#P30_4455

[novustrading]

Hi,

thanks for that, has clarified things for me

Thanks Again!

Lee

[KM-Tiger]

No problem, it's not a particularly easy page to find, I just happen to have been looking at it the other week.

You might also search this forum as there was another thread about this. It seems that it's quite important to keep good documentation, eg the company you are exporting to does exist, proof that the goods left the country etc.

That said I have done a few exports over the years, mainly to Ireland, and have never been asked about them on VAT inspections.

[Kent Accountant]

Theoretically you can verify the validity of a VAT registration number here
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/en/vieshome.htm It doesn't prove that it is the customer's number, just that it is a valid number