Office of Steam Logo_1

Author Topic: Bad News From Great Britain  (Read 1062 times)

jkbixby

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 999
  • Location: Gahanna, Ohio
Bad News From Great Britain
« on: October 03, 2019, 11:04:57 am »
I just bought a new engine from Roundhouse but got an email this morning from them saying they couldn't ship it without my giving them my taxpayer ID number. Further emails showed that they don't really know what that is for sure but thought it might be my SSN. Checked with my accountant and he also thought there was a high probability it was my SSN but advised me not to divulge it to them. I realize that Roundhouse is one of the "good guys" and also that my SSN is probably easily obtained by other means but I've chosen to go on the side of security and not give it to them. I'm sure they're (the government) is trying to track lost VAT but this has got to hurt Roundhouse's business to some degree and screws up my plans in the process - just hope they get it worked out soon.
Regards,
Larry

Stoker

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3620
  • Wherever you go ......... there you are!
  • Location: Eastern Sierra
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2019, 11:51:05 am »
That sounds like a real PITA, and I truly hope some common sense work around is in place soon. Sending your SSN to most anyone is a bad idea, let alone out of the country. If you are paying through bank transfers, paypal or any form of credit card, that ought to be all the info anyone should need, and provides all traceability that any proper authority should need for tax purposes!
"Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not wisdom, Wisdom is not truth, Truth is not beauty, Beauty is not love, Love is not music: Music is THE BEST...   
Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct). Beauty is a French phonetic corruption of a short cloth neck ornament currently in resurgence..."
F. Zappa ... by way of Mary, the girl from the bus.

RedRyder

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4313
  • Location: Connecticut - USA
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2019, 01:35:55 pm »
To me it looks a lot more like a scam.
Have you phoned Roundhouse and spoken to someone you actually know?
They do not need your soc sec no. to do business.
Meaning their email or yours has been hacked.

RedRyder

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4313
  • Location: Connecticut - USA
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2019, 01:47:35 pm »
Here is the phone number
011 44 1302 328035

St Paul Steam

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4832
  • Location: St. Paul Indiana
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2019, 06:09:29 pm »
I'm afraid we're going to see more & more of this type of thing as time goes forward, taxes nearly across the board on Ebay, governments wanting more internet information. ...ect. not good for the consumer & occasional  seller,  how long before trade between China & the U.S. is even more impacted ?
Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
"Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind."
  Nikola Tesla

jkbixby

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 999
  • Location: Gahanna, Ohio
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2019, 06:25:20 am »
Talking to Roundhouse this morning it turns out that this requirement for a Taxpayer ID number is from the shipping company they use called Worldwide Express which is hooked up with UPS and started in the last two or three months. When asked they indicated they had shipped to the US recently so folks must be giving them the info they requested. Harri Harrison wasn't there today but will be back on Monday with some answers supposedly, one option being shipping by Parcelforce which would cost about GBP 40.00 more than UPS/Worldwide Express.
Regards,
Larry

RedRyder

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4313
  • Location: Connecticut - USA
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2019, 06:38:43 am »
I would not be inclined to give any shipper my Social Security number under any circumstance.

I don't even give a doctors office my number. They always ask for it however we have the right to refuse to give it to them.

Paypal has the number however it is a financial institution and is required by law to keep it on record.


How about asking roundhouse to give them their tax id? They are the sender.

Gil

krypto31337

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 157
    • Homeshop Blog
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2019, 02:12:41 pm »
There's no way in h*ll I would ever give my SS# just to have something shipped.  That's just nuts.

I just bought (in August) a few models directly from Stuart Models in Dorset and they used TNT Express to ship  to the USA.  This package was delivered on a FedEX truck.  No VAT, no SS #.

A few years ago I bought some items from ArcEuroTrade of Leiceister.  Same deal and they used FedEx as well. 

Also bought many bits and bobs over the years sent through the Royal Mail.  Again, no VAT, no SS #.

They need to find another shipper.
My Workshop Blog:  http://doug.sdf.org/

jkbixby

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 999
  • Location: Gahanna, Ohio
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2019, 09:03:02 am »
This is an interesting article that perhaps sheds a little light on the subject. It was brought up on the other forum although reading it just makes my head swim after a while - guess you have to be a lawyer or CPA to understand some of this stuff.
https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/blog/when-a-foreign-vendor-needs-a-u-s-taxpayer-identification-number/
Regards,
Larry

komet163b

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 905
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2019, 10:35:01 am »
EBAY started taking sales tax for sales in states that have a sales tax (not all do).
To get around this the seller charges a minimal price but wildly pumped-up shipping
charges.  It might be $1 to buy that expensive engine but $200 to ship it, avoiding
the sales tax.  Personally, I don't mind the sales tax (wish it were better spent) but
this VAT is nightmarish.  Just tax any luxury items on a special sliding scale.  If a
rich snob wants to buy a 20 million dollar painting charge 20 million tax.  Ha, all of
a sudden the rich are not as rich.

And no, don't pass the SS# over.  There has to be another way.

On your side,
Wayne

krypto31337

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 157
    • Homeshop Blog
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #10 on: October 06, 2019, 07:00:39 am »
It's a good theory, but I can tell you that Ebay is absolutely charging sales tax on shipping charges, at least for my state.  I would imagine most states that have a sales tax do something similar.
My Workshop Blog:  http://doug.sdf.org/

komet163b

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 905
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #11 on: October 06, 2019, 11:29:18 am »
It's all just closing in on us.   Stop the world I
want to get off...I think I need a good steam-up.
Electrically or gas fired....Hmmm.

Wayne

jkbixby

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 999
  • Location: Gahanna, Ohio
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #12 on: October 07, 2019, 06:27:15 pm »
As an update Harri at Roundhouse got back to me today saying they will probably go with a different carrier who doesn't require a Taxpayer ID and will pick up the extra cost themselves which is much appreciated on my part. I feel kind of sorry for them as they have firm shipping prices and have been put in a tough spot but then again this is the sixth new Roundhouse engine I've bought and this will help future sales come about easier - besides they may come up with a better long term shipping company in the process.
Regards,
Larry

Jim

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4330
  • Aussie Steamer always on the boil :)
  • Location: South Coast of New South Wales Australia
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #13 on: October 07, 2019, 07:29:43 pm »
We have to pay 10% sales tax now on all eBay purchases (never had to before).

As a new tax its hard enough to swallow on new items off ebay, but secondhand ones???? That's a hard pill to have to swallow.
_______________________________________________
Cheers.
Jim

My YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/Blue123Heeler/videos


Nick

  • Administrator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 8119
  • Location: Minnesota, USA
Re: Bad News From Great Britain
« Reply #14 on: October 07, 2019, 10:34:23 pm »
We have to pay 10% sales tax now on all eBay purchases (never had to before).

As a new tax its hard enough to swallow on new items off ebay, but secondhand ones???? That's a hard pill to have to swallow.

Yes Jim, Minnesota was one of the first few states to start adding sales tax, so I've had it a few months now  :(

I still have a hard time paying sales tax at antique shops... I always make my offer in cash, no tax. If they don't take it, I use a credit card so I can get 2% back. I know many of these small shops that hand write paper receipts are not turning in all of their sales...
Nick