klacey said:
TreasureHunter said:
If you can manage to offer competitive prices on silver - when compared to other UK sellers, then you will have a lot to gain!
You need to set up a major competitive advantage... But as I know there is a high VAT on silver in the UK...
Thanks Treasure, I started posting business cards linking my website to all coins I sell on ebay. Im using that to bring in new customers. The fact they are willing to buy at ebay prices, this will be a nice saving for them and good business for me. VAT is a killer, but im going to a free consultation with local accountants about getting VAT registered and find best options for me.
If you get VAT registered then you will need to issue VAT invoices to all your customers for every sale.
You will however be able to off-set the VAT you are charged.
Every period you will have records showing how much VAT you have paid and how much VAT you have charged.
You will be asked to pay the difference to HMRC and you will also have to keep very good records as the VATman will at some stage enjoy rifling through all your paperwork to uncover an error.
This is how I believe it will work - please correct me if I am wrong.
Example not VAT registered.
You buy a coin from a dealer who invoices you 20 plus VAT at 20% so you hand over 24 cash.
You sell this coin for 30 on eBay or in your store.
Your gain ( excluding PayPal, eBay fees etc ) is therefore 6
Same sale but VAT registered
You pay 20 for the coin plus 4 VAT but you still hand over 24
You sell for 30 but issue an invoice for 25 plus 5 VAT
Your profit is now 5 ( 25 - 20 ) and you owe the Vatman 1 ( 5 output tax - 4 input tax )
Your actual profit therefore is 4
This would suggest VAT registered is less profitable unless you can recover VAT on other business expenses like computers etc.