Help "indicators of unmet UK business establishment requirements"
Hi,
I recently received an e-Mail from Amazon with the subject "[Action Required] disbursements are at risk of deactivation due to indicators of unmet UK business establishment requirements"
Can anyone explain what Amazon are asking from me? What I should do?
I'm a sole trader (formerly individual seller) and went through the whole UTR procedure earlier this year in order to stay compliant with Amazon's assertion that I was not an individual seller. I sent Amazon a copy of HMRC's UTR notification and that all went well.
I do not use FBA. I package and ship my 2-3 items per month directly to the customer.
I am UK-based -- never been based elsewhere -- and am lucky to clear £1200 pa in sales. I have always believed that this means I do not need to register for VAT.
Am I correct in this belief? What could make Amazon think I am non-UK based? Or does Amazon think I am concealing sales somehow?
I did once register for other Amazon seller markets (.de, .fr etc) but that was quite frankly a mistake and I cannot reverse it . . . . . could that be what's happened? As I say, I've been selling for many years without a hitch and without any need to register for VAT.
Here are the first two paragraphs of what Amazon is asking:
"Your disbursements are at risk of being deactivated in all stores you operate worldwide (excluding Amazon.in) as we have indicators that you might not be UK established for VAT purposes. As a result, we need you to provide additional documentary evidence proving that your company is established in the UK in accordance with this legislation, within 30 days of this notification. Why did this happen? From 1 Jan 2021, Amazon is liable to collect and remit VAT on B2C sales from non-UK established Selling Partners to B2C customers in UK under the UK VAT on e-Commerce legislation. We have taken this measure because as per investigation taken on your account, we found indicators that that your business is established outside the UK for VAT purposes. Hence, we need to get the documentary evidence to ensure we apply the correct treatment to your B2C sales."
All advice appreciated.
Sincerely,
Thinky Books
Help "indicators of unmet UK business establishment requirements"
Hi,
I recently received an e-Mail from Amazon with the subject "[Action Required] disbursements are at risk of deactivation due to indicators of unmet UK business establishment requirements"
Can anyone explain what Amazon are asking from me? What I should do?
I'm a sole trader (formerly individual seller) and went through the whole UTR procedure earlier this year in order to stay compliant with Amazon's assertion that I was not an individual seller. I sent Amazon a copy of HMRC's UTR notification and that all went well.
I do not use FBA. I package and ship my 2-3 items per month directly to the customer.
I am UK-based -- never been based elsewhere -- and am lucky to clear £1200 pa in sales. I have always believed that this means I do not need to register for VAT.
Am I correct in this belief? What could make Amazon think I am non-UK based? Or does Amazon think I am concealing sales somehow?
I did once register for other Amazon seller markets (.de, .fr etc) but that was quite frankly a mistake and I cannot reverse it . . . . . could that be what's happened? As I say, I've been selling for many years without a hitch and without any need to register for VAT.
Here are the first two paragraphs of what Amazon is asking:
"Your disbursements are at risk of being deactivated in all stores you operate worldwide (excluding Amazon.in) as we have indicators that you might not be UK established for VAT purposes. As a result, we need you to provide additional documentary evidence proving that your company is established in the UK in accordance with this legislation, within 30 days of this notification. Why did this happen? From 1 Jan 2021, Amazon is liable to collect and remit VAT on B2C sales from non-UK established Selling Partners to B2C customers in UK under the UK VAT on e-Commerce legislation. We have taken this measure because as per investigation taken on your account, we found indicators that that your business is established outside the UK for VAT purposes. Hence, we need to get the documentary evidence to ensure we apply the correct treatment to your B2C sales."
All advice appreciated.
Sincerely,
Thinky Books
129 replies
Seller_19xPhE8YgkmxW
Hi Thinky Books,
I've recently had the same email from Amazon and I'm in the same situation as yourself - i.e. Sole Trader with small, low value sales to the UK only, both business and my person based in the UK and all details previously confirmed to Amazon backed by documentation.
I've now sent scans of my Passport and most recent Council Tax Bill (from March 2023) to the email address they requested but have had no confirmation of receipt or any response
There may have been many such emails sent out as a result of the changes to VAT rules from 1/1/24 and we are just two of the recipients who've mentioned this on the Forums
The only other thing I can think is that I went across to Belgum recently for the Xmas Markets and so the phone number on Amazon's file went to Europe...
Or is that being unreaonably paranoid??
Brian
Seller_RAXEWLxQ2dbmN
Your disbursements are at risk of being deactivated in all stores you operate worldwide (excluding Amazon.in)
That's weird, unless you are based in India?!
Assuming you are UK based, Amazon has been adding other EU sites to lots of sellers on older acccounts this past week.
No warning, no explanation and no possibility to refuse.
I wonder why I'm suddenly thinking of the Godfather?
'We are going to make you an offer you can't refuse...' :o
In short, it looks like Amazon's systems are seriously messed-up at the moment.
Simon_Amazon
Hello @Seller_IvVwEd8qUuYlP,
Here Simon from Amazon, happy to help.
Have you already checked your Performance Notifications?
You should have received a communication with the documents required to complete the verification process.
Please let me know in case you have any doubt.
Best,
Simon
Simon_Amazon
Hello @Seller_IvVwEd8qUuYlP,
In order to reassure the other sellers, could you please confirm the verification process has been finalized and the disbursements have been released?
Best,
Simon
Seller_171whtfaYxvhd
Good morning all,
Wanted to let you know that after 7 whole days in despair, my funds are now released and the confirmation email is reflecting on my account from the kyc drtax team that everything's now verified. Wishing you the same will happened to all of you near soon.
Many thanks,
Seller_re3BGhHf8pO62
Hello all, I got this email on Thursday and pretty worried reading down this forum. Has anyone other than MarioK got this resolved yet?
Seller_Tc19YHYMgOZ6a
Hello
I am facing the same nightmare. Disbursements hve been suspended. I first supplied a copy of my VAT certificate.
Then I received another email requesting
" Provide evidence that you are physically operating your business from your provided address.
-- Provide documents that confirm the identity and place of residence of the sole trader.
So, I responded with a supplier invoice, and TV licence
Yet today, I have been asked for more of the same:
"Provide evidence that you are physically operating your business from your provided address.
-- Provide documents that confirm the identity and place of residence of the sole trader.
I am going round in circles. I have asked to be given a number to speak to someone but as is usual with Amazon, the request was ignored, - yet the say they are " here to hel[p!"
I pride myself on never having missed a VAT payment and am a believe that everyone or every company should pay their correct taxes.
I am on the verge of running out of money. I have suppliers to pay, a warehouse to pay rent on and they could not give two hoots.
Seller_Tc19YHYMgOZ6a
As Amazon are now blocking responses & threads, if you use Facebook, please find our new page set up to help bring sellers facing the same situation together:
Amazon UK Sellers Scandal
