Dodgy vat number via Amazon

[cheeky_chops]

Bought some stuff from amazon so wanted an invoice. Asked seller and got an invoice without vat. Asked if i could get a vat invoice and been sent one, totally different format but no problem. Hmm i thought, so Ive just searched the number on the gov site and its invalid. Companies House shows is started since apr 2023.

Its only a £300+vat purchase and could be a genuine issue (HMRC says it could be) but could be tax evasion too. What do you do in these situations?

[Mandat]

cheeky_chops said:

Bought some stuff from amazon so wanted an invoice. Asked seller and got an invoice without vat. Asked if i could get a vat invoice and been sent one, totally different format but no problem. Hmm i thought, so Ive just searched the number on the gov site and its invalid. Companies House shows is started since apr 2023.

Its only a £300+vat purchase and could be a genuine issue (HMRC says it could be) but could be tax evasion too. What do you do in these situations?

I suppose the choice you have to make is whether you report this to HMRC or don't report it.

I don't even know if reporting it will actually make any difference.

[V8RAW]

VAt fraud is rife on Amazon:

[Eric Mc]

Should that product not be Zero Rated normally for VAT purposes?

[22]

I looked at reporting someone using a fake VAT number on a receipt (shopped in person). The reporting feature was ludicrously dated (ancient web-page) and insanely complicated/long. As much as it would be nice to report those who are abusing the system, it needs to be more straightforward.

[cheeky_chops]

will find the form and have a go

[Zoon]

A guy local to me has just got done for £8.5million of VAT fraud on scrap metal.
Look up missing trader fraud.

[22]

Zoon said:

A guy local to me has just got done for £8.5million of VAT fraud on scrap metal.
Look up missing trader fraud.

Similar business (who'd have thunk it) chap near me got seven and a half years for £17.5 million (been in and out already). I was told the proceeds of crime people managed to reclaim just £31k. This is as much VAT as saw the end of Toys R Us.