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From what I experienced, European merchants do charge VAT as a part of the price: being from outside EU I can see prices listed on ebay.de and ebay.co.uk with and without VAT. Different EU nations have different provisions for taxation of privately sold / used items, so VAT may or may not apply in those cases.

Foreign merchants listed on European eBay sites do not charge VAT, nor they should: import duty is the job of customs office.

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Have you ever tried getting a VAT invoice (invoice with price and vat amount and rates and numbers written down on the invoice) from any eBay seller?

I doubt many of them are even VAT registered

Amazon on the other hand clearly state the Tax amounts and/or import duties on the invoices and receipts.

Anyways Ebay/Paypal are one scummy company who are being rightly out-competed by Amazon, they deserve it for their treatment of buyers and sellers and users of Paypal.

Yes, normally I get a full invoice from a seller, which lists VAT. Might be not something every mom&pop seller follows, but par the course with incorporated merchants on eBay.

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