Yes — if you import goods from outside the UK to sell on, you'll generally pay import VAT and, depending on the goods and their country of origin, customs duty at the border, both calculated on the value of the goods plus shipping and insurance.
Import VAT is usually reclaimable if you're VAT-registered (in the same way as VAT on any other business cost), but customs duty is not reclaimable — it's a genuine additional cost that needs to be built into your pricing and margin from day one, not treated as an afterthought once stock lands. Many first-time importers price based on the supplier invoice alone and are then surprised when the actual landed cost of stock is considerably higher once duty, VAT and courier handling fees are added. If you're sourcing stock from outside the UK and haven't worked out your true landed cost including duty and VAT, your margins are probably better or worse than you think — worth getting an accurate figure before you set your prices, not after you've sold a batch at the wrong margin.
We help online sellers work out true landed cost — including duty and VAT — before stock lands, not after.
Talk to an AccountantYes — if you import goods from outside the UK to sell on, you'll generally pay import VAT and, depending on the goods and their country of origin, customs duty at the border, both calculated on the value of the goods plus shipping and insurance.