VAT Free Trailer Advise - Hypothetical Question

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millimoo

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Firstly - I do not want to do anything illegal, hence asking the question on here.
However we're going to purchase a trailer.
I am in England.
The trailer manufacturer is in Europe
The Agent is in Ireland.
He suggested he could place the order, but we pay the Manufacturer, and then collect the trailer from the dealer once imported - he says we may then be able to avoid the 21% VAT.

We are also VAT registered, which is another way, but the company is nothing to do with horses therefore we know we can't use the business to purchase.

Does anyone know any more about this 'loophole' - or whether it would in fact be fraudulent?
Any thoughts would be appreciated, as we don't want to break the law / end up fined.
The dealer wasn't 100% either
 
millimoo said:
Firstly - I do not want to do anything illegal, hence asking the question on here.
However we're going to purchase a trailer.
I am in England.
The trailer manufacturer is in Europe
The Agent is in Ireland.
He suggested he could place the order, but we pay the Manufacturer, and then collect the trailer from the dealer once imported - he says we may then be able to avoid the 21% VAT.

We are also VAT registered, which is another way, but the company is nothing to do with horses therefore we know we can't use the business to purchase.

Does anyone know any more about this 'loophole' - or whether it would in fact be fraudulent?
Any thoughts would be appreciated, as we don't want to break the law / end up fined.
The dealer wasn't 100% either
Click to expand...
Im not a expert but i am vat reg I would think that the selling dealer would need to account for there countrys VAT element on the sale either by taking money or having the buyers vat number to account for it I think its all being watched by HMRC because of the inter country vat fraud that goes on, But if you just go as a member of the public and are not charged VAT I dont think you would have a problem... only if someone said they were vat reg and gave number to avade paying VAT would the sh hit the fan...
 
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Thanks Perfect11s - it's a difficult one to call, we just want to make sure don't committ any kind of fraud.
I've spoken to my friend who's an accountant and like you say, the HMRC are watching this type of purchase. But when I spoke to her it was based on going on a VAT registered basis.
The dealer seems to think we may be able to do this as a Private purchaser, just feel nervous about it.
 
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