Tax on Imports under £135 Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Tax on Imports under £135

Baroness Kramer Excerpts
Monday 14th July 2025

(1 day, 17 hours ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Kramer Portrait Baroness Kramer (LD)
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My Lords, I will row in behind the noble Lord, Lord Leigh, on this issue. Could we get a slightly more satisfactory answer on why it is taking so long to find a solution so that the UK can collect the VAT that is due on small items? Will the Minister remember not just that we need the money for tax revenue but that the lack of a level playing field disadvantages British companies in this arena, which find that their goods are displaced by imports because they are not paying VAT?

Lord Livermore Portrait Lord Livermore (Lab)
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We fully recognise all the issues that the noble Baroness has set out, which is exactly why we established a review in April. That review will look at the online marketplace rules to establish whether they can be amended to remove opportunities for businesses to avoid their VAT obligations. All available options will be considered, and it will proceed in the way that we set out.