** Shipping to Great Britain is now problematic for some sellers/venders since January 1, 2021. This has EVERYTHING to do with the newest VAT laws associated with Brexit.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has changed their procedures and requirements on how VAT is collected. In the past, HMRC would simply collect VAT prior to the customer picking up or having their product delivered. However, since January 1, 2021, they changed this. This change now entails that a business outside of the UK, must register for VAT and get a license and make the VAT collection at time of sale and then the seller forwards the VAT to HMRC. This might seem simple, but many of the requirements the HMRC has requested in order to obtain this license, is quite intensive and intrusive for some small businesses like Wolf Whiskers. As a result, Wolf Whiskers will not obtain the UK VAT registration Number to participate and therefore cannot ship to the UK without that VAT registration.
After you look at the HMRC link, you will see some exemptions to this VAT collection, but unfortunately, WW does not qualify for tax exemption, zero rated items, reduced rate, low value consignment relief requirements, or any other exemption status. All items fall between £15-£135 values. Also, Wolf Whiskers, on principle, will never falsify a customs declaration page to hide the value just to avoid VAT or custom charges.
So, maybe you might ask, why not just register for the UK VAT Registration Number. I did initiate the registration in January. The extensive information the HMRC requested infringed upon my ethical standards and capability. What do I mean? I did not and will not sacrifice or maintain banking and/or other privacy information about my customers for which the HMRC specifically wanted maintained. Neither will I provide the HMRC with my own private banking information which they required. Since Wolf Whiskers is a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and not a corporation, the required information the HMRC needed entailed full details about my personal banking and mortgage accounts among other sensitive information. As a sole proprietor, compared to a corporation or larger business, much is at stake. Both yours and my personal information needs to be protected and I am grateful for your understanding in this regard.