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Why does Amazon treat us like animals?
Hello
I sent my documents for VAT verification but my account deactivated.
Amazon never makes an explanation,i asked many times.
I show my VAT related documents more then 100 people,accountant,lawyer,experienced seller who passes VAT verification before and all of them say "your documents can easily pass VAT verification". Even many sellers passed VAT verification less then my documents.I saw their documents.
Amazon never says your such a document is wrong,missing,we need additional document etc
I ask what the problem is.. but they never say anything.
Also failing VAT verification is not a reason to deactivate an account.Amazon says if your not UK established you can continue selling but you have pay vat, but they deactivate my account.I ask them why did they deactivate my account because of VAT they never reply.
I write to support but they cant help.
Any advice?
Is there any superwiser,any internal team,mail that i can talk?
13 replies
Seller_mS10UjVYuuGor
Failing VAT verification is absolutely a reason to deactivate someone's account.
Amazon has to make sure all taxes are paid in every market it operates in or risks suspension itself by the relevant government. No one seller will be allowed to risk Amazon's reputation.
You don't mention HMRC in the 100 people you asked if your documents would pass VAT verification. They are the only body that matters. Amazon will check your VAT verification with HMRC and HMRC only, if it doesn't stack up you will be removed to protect Amazon as a whole. You could lose selling privileges in all the markets you operate in if you have tried to deceive Amazon and/or HMRC.
If you're not properly registered with HMRC UK then Amazon can arrange to pay the VAT for you, search Amazon VAT services. If you are just upload genuine documents, these will be verified with HMRC and you'll be free to sell.
Seller_QuM1AZgzfU9x4
There are quite a few threads where a Turkish seller has failed the VAT establishment. In all cases so far they are companies created by someone living in Turkey who resigns as director but stays on as the person with significant control, putting in place a "puppet" director who has no meaningful role in the company other than to try and prove UK-establishment.
UK establishment isn't just about where a company director lives so it's little surprise they keep failing.
Seller_0TeU6wKMsIhaF
It is a very specific document that Amazon require and it's only available from HMRC. If you just phone HMRC, ask for it and then send that to Amazon, they'll be happy. They will not accept anything else and do explain this and the name of the document they do want.
Seller_iwDZC5h1MCUbw
I treat my animals as part of the family, I am not sure Amazon treats me the same way! I guess you treat animals in an appalling manner to use that comparison. :)
Seller_MT8rt0A2OpbCx
If you search through the forums, there are dozens of similar threads, where registering a virtual office, at the same address as many others, is not proof of establishment in the U.K. Your registered address has 62 active businesses there.
To Amazon, a virtual address seems like proof that companies are not established in the U.K., and many of these are not. They are evading paying their due taxes, enabling undercutting of sellers who are doing everything correctly and paying their way. It is great that Amazon are pursuing these illegal sellers. Unfortunately, there may be some legitimate sellers who are caught up in this and it seems almost impossible to get out of it.
Amazon have much more resources than HMRC for detecting these rogues, especially with the technology at their disposal. E.g. Amazon may be able see where people log in from, and if it's not U.K. decide they are not established in the U.K. and should be paying backdated VAT. That's just a theory, I don't know Amazon's criteria or methods for this.
It's best to be absolutely honest with Amazon right from the start. One slip and you could be banned for life. Corrections, even for honest mistakes, are difficult to correct.
Seller_RlZVPg3d6ZUGP
As you've been doing fba without a VAT number, are you actually UK based making all business decisions in the UK?
Seller_PU8ypkNZEJU9p
Its a paid for registered office this is why. You need an official address not a paid for post box
Seller_gpqqZ5FYuNK50
Try reuploading the documents in different formats, all scanned copies, all pdfs, then all photos of the printed documents, if none of those work highlight the essential information they ask for on the printed ones, then try as scanned and photo format, if that doesn’t work highlight the pdfs digitally and try that. Amazons favourite colour for a highlighter is yellow.
Amazon also doesn’t like new VAT numbers that don’t have GB infront but I can’t remember how I fixed this sorry.
Go on fiverr or google and find an Amazon Specialist
