Seller VAT exemption stuck "in process" for weeks — what finally got it approved for you?
I'm an EU-based business seller (Hungary) and I'm stuck in what feels like an endless loop with the seller VAT exemption, so I'm hoping someone here has been through the same thing.
Background: my account was migrated from a sole proprietorship to a limited company in July. The old VAT number was removed and the new company VAT number was added — it's valid and VIES-verifiable.
On 7 August, after speaking to customer service, I submitted the new number on the "Register for VAT/GST exemption on fees" page. I was told validation takes up to 14 business days. When nothing happened, I chatted again — and was told their system only registered my submission on 27 August, so the clock restarted. That second window has now passed too, with no approval and no notification. There's no status indicator anywhere: the exemption page just shows the number "on file", nothing about whether it's approved.
On top of that, my July fee invoice and credit note were issued with the old, now invalid VAT number, and I was told invoices can't be corrected once generated. Both my company and the eBay entity issuing the invoices are inside the EU, so I don't understand why correct company data on an invoice is such a problem.
All I get from customer service are template replies, not actual help. What frustrates me most is the double standard: as a seller I have to meet every service metric eBay sets, or I face consequences. eBay doesn't even hold itself to its own stated timelines — twice now — and there is no consequence at all.
So, questions for anyone who's dealt with this:
How long did your seller VAT verification actually take, and is there any way to see its status?
Did anything specific get it moving (a particular department, phone support, the Business Seller line)?
Has anyone successfully got a corrected fee invoice after a VAT number change?
Any experience would be appreciated.
