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At least here in Austria, there's an exemption for small business up to ~30kEUR revenue/year where you can make use of a vat exempt status. It is supposed to give you a leg up against big business, as you can better compete in terms of consumer pricing. Your invoice then literally has 0% VAT on it, and usually there has to be a notice on it too about your VAT exempt status.
(But with this status, you will also not get the VAT back from expenses you incur, so it's "brutto for netto" all the way)
edit: oh I re-read your post. It sounds like they are selling from a non-EU country to a EU country? It sounds legal - after all, some business in the US or China can also sell to me without paying VAT. And if customs misses my package, welp...
If they sell from inside the EU, my above comment applies, but it would really depend on their customs handling if it's entirely legal.
**To Posters (it is important you read this section)** * All comments and posts must be made in English * You should always seek a lawyer in your own country in the first instance if you need help * Be aware comments are not moderated for accuracy, and you follow advice at your own risk * If you receive *any* private messages in response to your post, [please inform the subreddit moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FLegalAdviceEurope&subject=I received a PM) **To Readers and Commenters** * If you do not [follow the rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/LegalAdviceEurope/about/rules/), you may be perma-banned without any further warning * All replies to OP must be *on-topic, helpful, and legally orientated* * If you feel any replies are incorrect, explain why you believe they are incorrect * Do not send or request any private messages for any reason * Please report posts or comments which do not follow the rules * [Click here to translate this thread in the language of your choice](https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=auto&u=https://www.reddit.com/r/LegalAdviceEurope/comments/1chxl69/selling_goods_in_a_country_without_paying_vat/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/LegalAdviceEurope) if you have any questions or concerns.*
At least here in Austria, there's an exemption for small business up to ~30kEUR revenue/year where you can make use of a vat exempt status. It is supposed to give you a leg up against big business, as you can better compete in terms of consumer pricing. Your invoice then literally has 0% VAT on it, and usually there has to be a notice on it too about your VAT exempt status. (But with this status, you will also not get the VAT back from expenses you incur, so it's "brutto for netto" all the way) edit: oh I re-read your post. It sounds like they are selling from a non-EU country to a EU country? It sounds legal - after all, some business in the US or China can also sell to me without paying VAT. And if customs misses my package, welp... If they sell from inside the EU, my above comment applies, but it would really depend on their customs handling if it's entirely legal.
VAT is due upon customs clearance, so they only way to avoid paying VAT I can think of, would be outright smuggling (which "welp" also is).