Petition · past parliament · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Seek to re-instate the Marginal VAT scheme between GB & EU on Second Hand Goods
Closed
1,305 signatures
What the petition asks
We want Government to agree with the EU to re-instate the Marginal VAT scheme for second hand goods between the EU and the UK.
Businesses trading in second hand goods are being hit with a change in taxation rules that puts UK-based operations at a massive disadvantage to competitors in the EU.
Businesses trading in second hand goods are being hit with a change in taxation rules that puts UK-based operations at a massive disadvantage to competitors in the EU.
Since the UK is no longer included in the margin scheme, a pre-owned item selling for £15k would now attract VAT in the EU.
Since all remaining 27 member states of the EU still offer the margin scheme, a customer buying the aforementioned item from any trader based in the EU will pay around £16k for the watch, but a UK-based business selling to an EU-based customer would have to charge C£18k, therefore ruling out trade of 2nd hand goods with the EU and potentially forcing businesses into bankruptcy.
Since all remaining 27 member states of the EU still offer the margin scheme, a customer buying the aforementioned item from any trader based in the EU will pay around £16k for the watch, but a UK-based business selling to an EU-based customer would have to charge C£18k, therefore ruling out trade of 2nd hand goods with the EU and potentially forcing businesses into bankruptcy.
Timeline
| 3 Feb 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 3 Aug 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
1,305
Status
Closed
Department
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Opened
3 Feb 2021
Closed
3 Aug 2021
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.