UK withholding funds on Amazon account?

From 1 September 2023 onward, Amazon started collecting and remitting VAT on your B2C sales because Amazon has concluded that your business is not considered as established in the UK for VAT purposes. UK VAT eCommerce legislation requires Amazon to collect and remit UK VAT on your B2C supplies delivered within the UK by non-UK established businesses.

This legislation was originally implemented on 1 January 2021. Amazon is in the process of assessing your UK VAT owed since then. Amazon expect this process to take up to 14 days, and will contact you with the result of our assessment. You can continue selling on Amazon, but you will not be able to disburse any funds from your account, until any UK VAT owed is paid to Amazon. You will receive more instructions on how to settle the payment in further communication.

 

Why did this happen?

Amazon has taken this measure because according to HMRC records. The address associated with your VAT Registration Number is HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS OFFICES, RUBY PLACE, ABERDEEN, AB10 1QZ – the default address HMRC uses for registrations where the business is not established in UK for VAT purposes.

 

What should I do if my address on file with HMRC is incorrect and I am indeed a UK established company?

If you believe you meet UK business establishment requirements. You can contact HMRC to update the address associated with your VAT registration number. Your tax advisor can support with this change or you can contact HMRC directly.

If you successfully update this information with HMRC, and your UK address is visible in the HMRC VRN checker. You can contact with Amazon to confirm this together with additional documents as evidence of your establishment. Before contacting Amazon, please ensure that the UK address visible in the HMRC VRN Checker is no-longer reflecting “HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS OFFICES, RUBY PLACE, ABERDEEN, AB10 1QZ”.

Amazon review of your documents may take up to 14 days following which, if successful, your responsibility to remit VAT directly on your B2C sales in the UK will be restored.

 

What documentary evidence will Amazon require from me if I update my information with HMRC?

The documents required will include

  • Evidence that you are physically operating your business from your provided UK address
  • Evidence of the place of residence of your directors
  • Evidence of any employees.