Electronic Commerce: Hallmarking and VAT
(asked on 29th August 2025) - View Source
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that online sellers meet their obligations in relation to (a) the Hallmarking Act 1973 and (b) the payment of VAT.
Answered by
Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
(a)
Anyone selling precious metals items must comply with the Hallmarking Act 1973. British Hallmarking Council guidance is available at: ”Selling articles of precious metal on the internet - GOV.UK”. In January 2025, I met some of the major online marketplaces and emphasised the importance of ensuring non-compliant products are not made available through their channels.
(b)
VAT collection is already regulated by HMRC under the VAT Act 1994, with updates from the Finance Act 2021 that place VAT obligations on online marketplaces. Since 2021 online marketplaces are liable to VAT from overseas sellers operating on their platform, levelling the playing field with UK businesses.