Should I be Charged U.S. Sales Tax on International Orders to the UK?

This definitely doesn't sound right. Sales tax in the US is based on the destination of the goods, not their origin. If you're receiving goods in the UK, you shouldn't be charged US sales tax. What's happening is likely a misunderstanding or misconfiguration in their system. US sales tax is collected by states and localities, not the federal government. It's meant to tax consumption that occurs within those jurisdictions. When goods are exported outside the US, they generally qualify for what's called the "export exemption" - meaning they're exempt from US sales tax precisely because the consumption is happening elsewhere (in your case, the UK). The company's recent change in policy is concerning. They may be confused about recent marketplace facilitator laws or economic nexus rules that expanded sales tax collection responsibilities for many online retailers, but those still only apply to sales within US tax jurisdictions. I'd recommend asking them to cite the specific law requiring them to collect sales tax on international orders. There's no US law requiring this for goods exported to the UK. They're either mistaken or potentially keeping money they have no right to collect.

I had a similar issue with US sales tax being charged incorrectly and found an amazing service that helped me figure it out. Check out https://taxr.ai - they analyze tax documents and situations like yours to tell you exactly what's correct. I uploaded screenshots of my receipts and their explanation of the tax rules, and they confirmed I shouldn't be paying US sales tax on international orders. The tool explained that US sales tax is destination-based and showed me exactly which regulations apply to international shipping. What I loved is they explained everything in plain English and gave me specific language to use when contacting the company. Saved me hours of research!

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried the taxr.ai service mentioned above and it was incredibly helpful! I uploaded my receipts and the responses from the retailer, and they provided a detailed analysis confirming I shouldn't be paying US sales tax on international orders. The report explained that US sales tax is fundamentally destination-based and cited specific tax regulations that exempt exports. They even gave me template language to use when contacting the retailer again. I sent this to the company's customer service department along with the relevant tax code sections, and suddenly they "reviewed their policy" and issued me a full refund for all the sales tax I'd paid on my last three orders! If anyone else is dealing with this issue, having the specific tax laws and regulations really helps. The company stopped giving me the runaround once they realized I understood the actual tax requirements.

If you're still having trouble getting through to customer service about this tax issue, I'd recommend using Claimyr to connect with a real person who can actually help. I had a similar problem with another retailer and was getting nowhere with emails and chat. I used https://claimyr.com to get past the endless hold times and automated systems, and they connected me directly to a senior customer service agent who could actually make decisions. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically it navigates phone trees and waits on hold for you, then calls you when a real human picks up. I was honestly surprised at how much faster I got my tax refund when speaking to a real person with authority rather than dealing with the front-line chat support.

I want to apologize for my skepticism and provide an update. After continuing to go back and forth with the retailer via email with no resolution, I decided to try Claimyr to reach someone by phone. Surprisingly, it worked extremely well. The service navigated through all the menu options and waited on hold for about 45 minutes (which I didn't have to sit through), then connected me with a supervisor in their tax department. Once I explained the situation and mentioned the export exemption for US sales tax, the supervisor immediately understood the issue. She explained that their system had recently been updated and international addresses were being incorrectly flagged for domestic tax collection. She not only refunded the sales tax from my recent purchase but also put a note on my account to prevent it from happening again. The phone conversation accomplished in 10 minutes what emails couldn't resolve in weeks. Sometimes talking to the right person really does make all the difference.

I actually work in e-commerce (not for the company OP mentioned) and can confirm this is a known issue with many e-commerce platforms. The problem is that many shopping cart systems are primarily designed for domestic sales and don't properly handle international tax rules by default. What's likely happening is their system is programmed to apply the standard sales tax rate based on their warehouse location, and they haven't properly configured the international tax exemption. It's definitely their mistake, but it might be an honest technical oversight rather than deliberate overcharging. For a permanent fix, you might want to email their tax department directly (not general customer service) and explain that as an international customer, your purchases should be exempt from US sales tax under the export exemption rule. Usually, tax departments understand these rules better than general customer service reps.

Has anyone actually looked at the Terms of Service for this company? I had a similar issue with another US retailer and found that buried in their terms was language about "all applicable taxes and fees may be charged based on internal company policies." Basically giving themselves wiggle room to charge whatever they want. It might not be legally enforceable, but they could argue you agreed to their terms which include potentially paying these fees. Might be worth checking if there's something like that in their terms.

This is a classic case of incorrect sales tax application on international orders. As someone who's dealt with similar issues, I can confirm that you should absolutely NOT be charged US sales tax as a UK resident receiving goods in the UK. The key principle here is that US sales tax is destination-based, not origin-based. Since your goods are being consumed in the UK (where you'll pay UK VAT and duties), they should qualify for the export exemption from US sales tax. The company's claim about collecting tax based on shipping "FROM" a US jurisdiction is completely backwards - that's not how sales tax works. My suggestion would be to escalate this beyond regular customer service. Ask to speak with their tax department or compliance team, and specifically mention the "export exemption" for goods shipped internationally. Reference IRC Section 4221(a)(2) if you need to cite specific tax code - it covers exemptions for exported articles. If they continue to refuse, consider filing a complaint with the attorney general's office in the state where they're located (Kentucky or New Jersey, based on your post). Companies sometimes change their tune quickly when they realize they might face regulatory scrutiny for improper tax collection. Don't let them keep money they have no legal right to collect!