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VAT business test

There are a number of conditions that must be satisfied in order for an activity to be within the scope of UK VAT. One of the conditions that needs to be carefully considered when deciding whether an activity is within the scope of VAT is the concept that the supply must be made in the course or

VAT reverse charge and the flat rate scheme

There are special VAT rules for building contractors and sub-contractors that came into effect on 1 March 2021. The new rules make the supply of most construction services between construction or building businesses subject to the domestic reverse charge. The reverse charge only applies to supplies

VAT Margin Scheme bad debt relief

The VAT bad debt relief rules allow businesses to claim bad debt relief and reclaim the VAT they have paid to HMRC. This can happen when an invoice has been issued to a customer and no payment has been received after an extended period (usually 6 months after the due date) has elapsed.

Under the

What goods are eligible for the margin scheme?

There are a few VAT margin schemes. The margin schemes work by allowing qualifying businesses to account for VAT on their profit margin i.e., on the difference between the cost of acquiring an item and its sale price rather than on the full selling price.

Without the margin scheme the business

Hospitality trades temporary reduction in VAT has expired

The temporary reduced rate of 5% for hospitality, holiday accommodation and attractions that came into effect in July 2020 ended on 30 September 2021.

However, the government had previously decided that reverting to the standard rate would be too much for many businesses and had announced a further

Completing a One Stop Shop VAT return

HMRC’s guidance on how to complete and submit a One Stop Shop (OSS) VAT Return from 1 October 2021 has been updated. The special VAT return should only be completed by businesses registered for the OSS Union scheme.

The OSS Union scheme can be used by businesses selling goods from Northern Ireland

VAT register inactivity

HMRC’s published guidance titled ‘Check genuine HMRC contact that uses more than one communication method’ has been updated. The list is intended to help taxpayers check if recent contacts purporting to be from HMRC are actually a scam.

The guidance contains a list of emails, phone calls, letters

Deadline for notifying an option to tax (VAT) land and buildings

There are special VAT rules that allow businesses to standard rate the supply of most non-residential and commercial land and buildings (known as the option to tax). This means that subsequent supplies by the person making the option to tax will be subject to VAT at the standard rate.

HMRC had

Scope and legal basis of VAT

The scope and legal basis of how VAT is charged on taxable supplies is defined as follows in the VAT Act 1994:

VAT shall be charged on any supply of goods or services made in the United Kingdom, where it is a taxable supply made by a taxable person in the course or furtherance of any business

Recovering VAT on car purchases

There are complex VAT rules that determine how you can recover VAT on car purchases. The usual fallback rule is that if you purchase a car for your business then no VAT can be reclaimed.

The main exception to this rule is if the new car is used solely for business use. To qualify for VAT recovery