HMRC have published a recent agent update. In respect of VAT it covers:
Via this service dashboard you can check current processing times and service levels for post and online requests.
The guidance sets current performance and service levels, processing dates and the date HMRC aims to return to normal service levels where there is a delay.
It currently advises:
VAT registration
Normal Service – HMRC aim to reply within 30 working days from the date the request was sent.
VAT deregistration
Normal service – HMRC aim to reply within 30 working days from the date the request was sent.
VAT – group registration application
Delayed Service
HMRC aim to return to normal service of 30 working days by the end of August 2022.
This date is an estimate and may change. HMRC say that it is sorry for the delay.
HMRC is currently processing requests received on 17 March 2022.
If you sent your request after 24 June 2022, please do not contact HMRC as it has not been processed yet.
VAT – option to tax
Delayed Service
HMRC aim to return to normal service of 30 working days by the end of August 2022.
This date is an estimate and may change. Again, HMRC say that it is sorry for the delay.
HMRC is currently processing requests received on 9 December 2021.
If you sent your request after 9 December 2021, please do not contact HMRC as it has not been processed yet.
Further, you can Check when you can expect a reply from HMRC
VAT Basics
A business must register for VAT with HMRC if its VAT taxable turnover is more than £90,000 in a 12 month period.
Taxable Turnover
Taxable turnover means the total value of everything that a business sells that is not exempt or outside the scope of VAT.
Registration is mandatory if turnover exceeds the current registration threshold in a rolling 12-month period. This is not a fixed period like the tax year or the calendar year – at the end of every month a business is required to calculate income (not profit) over the past year.
A business may also register voluntarily, which may be beneficial if it wants to reclaim input tax it has incurred.
Catches
There are some transactions that must be included in the turnover calculation which can easily be missed:
Timing
A business must register within 30 days of the end of the month when it exceeded the threshold. The effective date of registration (EDR) is the first day of the second month after a business goes over the threshold.
Future test
A business must mandatorily register for VAT if it expects its VAT taxable turnover to be more than £85,000 in the next 30-day period. This may be because of a new contract or a other known factors.
Registration exception
If a business has a one-off increase in income it can apply for a registration ‘exception’. If its taxable turnover goes over the threshold temporarily it can write to HMRC with evidence showing why the taxable turnover will not exceed the deregistration threshold (currently £83,000 in the next 12 months). HMRC will consider an exception and write confirming if a business will receive one. If not, HMRC will compulsory register the business for VAT.
Transfer of a going concern (TOGC)
If a VAT-registered ongoing business is purchased the buyer must register for VAT from the purchase date. It cannot wait until its turnover exceeds the threshold.
Businesses outside the UK
If a business belongs outside the UK, there is a zero threshold. It must register as soon as it supplies any goods and services to the UK (or if it expects to in the next 30 days).
Late registration
If a business registers late, it must pay the VAT due from when it should have registered (the EDR). Further, it will receive a penalty depending on how much it owes and how late the registration is. The rates based on the VAT due are:
How to register
A business can register online. By doing this it will register for VAT and create a VAT online account via which it will submit VAT returns.
Between application and receiving a VAT number
During the wait, a business cannot charge or show VAT on its invoices until it receives a VAT number. However, it will still be required to pay the VAT to HMRC for this period. Usually, a business will increase its prices to allow for this and tell its customers why. Once a VAT number is received, the business can then reissue the invoices showing the VAT.
Purchases made before registration
There are time limits for backdating claims for input tax incurred before registration. These are:
Once registered
A business’ VAT responsibilities. From the EDR a business must:
VAT groups
VAT grouping is a facilitation measure by which two or more entities can be treated as a single taxable person (a single VAT registration). There are pros and cons of grouping set out here.
HMRC has published UK VAT statistics for 2020 to 2021.
Headlines
The total VAT receipts in the tax year ending March 2021 decreased by 22% (£24.1 billion) from the previous year. There was a downward impact on receipts from the VAT deferral measure which took effect from 20 March 2020.
The Wholesale and Retail sector continued to be the largest contributor to net Home VAT liabilities.
Import VAT receipts was also lower: £4.2 billion (13%) for the year compared to the year ending March 2020. This was mainly due to postponed VAT accounting.
68% of total net home VAT declared was paid by traders with an annual turnover greater than £10 million.
VAT population – income
Incorporated companies accounted for the largest share of the VAT population and annual turnover. Companies accounted for 73% of taxpayers, and 92% of annual taxable turnover in the year ending March 2021. Sole proprietors were the second largest group in terms of VAT population; this group accounted for 16% of VAT traders.
Businesses with an annual turnover greater than £10 million declared £67 billion in net VAT, 68% of the total for the tax year. This group only accounted for 1% of businesses.
52% of businesses declared annual turnover below the VAT registration threshold of £85,000.
VAT population – trade sectors
The wholesale and retail sector was the largest in terms of contribution to VAT liabilities. Net VAT liabilities were £29 billion (30%) of the total for the tax year ending March 2021. The financial and insurance sector has replaced the arts, entertainment and recreation sector and accommodation and food services sector in the top ten trade sectors from the previous year.
The construction sector increased by £650 million (12%), the largest year-on-year change. The only other sectors to see increases were wholesale and retail sectors which increased by £30 million (2%) and professional, scientific, and technical activities which increased by £19 million (2%). Of the top VAT contributing sectors, the financial and insurance sector saw the largest decrease of £560 million (25%).
VAT registrations
New registrations increased from the tax year ending March 2013 to the tax year ending March 2017 where it decreased by 33,666 (8%). Since the tax year ending March 2018, there has been an upward trend in new registrations – 300,000 in the year to 2021.
Deregistrations were below 200,000 a year from the tax year ending March 2014 to the tax year ending March 2016, but increased above that level in the tax year ending March 2017, increasing further in the tax year ending March 2018. This increase in deregistrations was likely to be linked to policy changes in relation to the Flat Rate Scheme.
The freeze in the VAT registration and deregistration thresholds has increased the number of registrations and decreased the number of deregistrations progressively from the year ending March 2019.
Latest from the courts, the Euro Beer Distribution Ltd First Tier Tribunal (FTT) case.
The intention of a taxpayer is extremely important for a number of reasons. It is relevant where:
Broadly, immediate action is dependent upon whether a business intends to make taxable supplies in the future. This intention dictates whether registration is possible, whether input tax may be claimed, and whether a business may remain VAT registered. Even if a business has the intention to make taxable supplies, it is sometimes difficult to evidence this to HMRC’s satisfaction.
Background
Euro Beer was in the business of importing and selling alcoholic drinks. It had been in business since 2004 and was also approved and registered as an owner of duty suspended goods under the Warehousekeepers and Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations 1999.
Technical
HMRC compulsorily deregistered Euro Beer via VAT Act 1994, Schedule 1, para 13 (2) on the grounds that it believed that the appellant had ceased making taxable supplies. Nil returns had been submitted since 2016 and, after enquires, formed the view that there was no intention to make supplies in the future.
Euro Beer contended, unsurprisingly, that there was an intention to make taxable supplies in the future such that continued VAT registration was appropriate. Additionally, the reason for the nil returns was simply, at that time, business had dried up. The appellant provided limited evidence to support its intention. This comprised; emails between the directors and third-party contacts.
Decision
The appeal was dismissed and Euro Beer’s VAT deregistration (and revocation of approval from the Warehousekeepers and Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations 1999) was confirmed as appropriate.
Commentary
This was hardly a surprising decision and one wonders why it got to court. It does, however, emphasise the importance of the concept of intention. This can be a subjective matter and HMRC place significant weight on documentary evidence. There is no question in law that HMRC must register/maintain registration/repay input tax if it is satisfied that there is a business which does not make taxable supplies but ‘intends to make such supplies in the course or furtherance of that business’ – VAT Act 1994, Schedule 1, para 9 (b). However, ensuring HMRC is satisfied is often problematic.
This is specifically difficult in the area of land and property. VAT registration and the associated input tax claims of a property developer is often the source of disputes. It is important to differentiate between an intention, and what actually happens. Often business plans change, or the original intention is not fulfilled. In such cases, there is a mechanism for repaying input tax claimed (VAT Gen regs 1995 reg 108) but this is only applicable in certain circumstances. The case of Merseyside Cablevision Ltd (MAN/85/327, VTD 2419) demonstrates that if an intention to make taxable supplies is thwarted, input tax claimed is not clawed back (a person who carries on activities which are preparatory to the carrying on of a business is to be treated as in business and is a taxable person).
It should be noted that a business does not have to specify a date by which it expects to make taxable supplies, or to estimate the value of them.
The lesson is; to document every business decision made:
Clearly for land and property additional; planning permission, land registry details, plans, surveys, fees, etc will build up a picture that there is an intention to make taxable supplies.
These are just examples and different business may have alternative evidence.
In commercial terms, it will be difficult for HMRC to be unsatisfied if a business is incurring costs in relation to a project – why would they devote time/staff/advisers/financial resources to something when there is no intention of deriving income?
One final point on the Euro Beer case. The judge stated; ‘an intention to make supplies requires more than a mere hope to be in a position to make supplies at some unspecified time in the future’. It is not enough for a business to ‘generally’ state that there is an intention.
This article considers when and how to deregister from VAT and the consequences of doing so.
General points
Deregistration may be mandatory or voluntary depending on circumstances. Although it may be attractive for certain businesses too deregister if possible, this is not always the case. The main reason to remain registered is to recover input tax on purchases made by a business. This is particularly relevant if that business’ sales are:
Businesses which make sales to the public (B2C) are usually better off leaving the VAT club even if this means not being able to recover input tax incurred.
A business applies for deregistration online through its VAT account, or it can also complete a form VAT7 to deregister by post.
NB: These rules apply to businesses belonging in the UK. There are different rules for overseas business which are outside the scope of this article.
The Rules
Compulsory deregistration
A business must deregister if it ceases to make taxable supplies. This is usually when a business has been sold, but there may be other circumstances, eg; if a business starts to make only exempt supplies, or a charity stops making business supplies and continues with only non-business activities or when an independent body corporate joins a VAT group. In such circumstances there is a requirement to notify HMRC within 30 days of ceasing to make taxable supplies.
We have seen, on a number of occasions, HMRC attempting to compulsorily deregister a business because either; it has not made any taxable supplies (although it has the intention of doing so) or it is only making a small amount of taxable supplies. In the first example, as long as the business can demonstrate that it intends to make taxable supplies in the future it is entitled to remain VAT registered. This is often the position with; speculative property developers, business models where there is a long lead in period, or business such as exploration/exploitation of earth resources.
Voluntary deregistration
A business may apply for deregistration if it expects its taxable turnover in the next twelve to be below the deregistration threshold. This is currently £83,000 which was unchanged in this month’s Budget. It must be able to satisfy HMRC that this is the case. Such an application may be made at any time and the actual date of leaving the club is agreed with HMRC. It should be noted that when calculating taxable income, certain supplies are excluded. These are usually exempt supplies but depending on the facts, other income may also be ignored.
Consequences of deregistration
A deregistered business is required to submit a final VAT return for the period up to and including the deregistration date. This is called a Period 99/99 return.
From the date of deregistration a business must stop charging VAT and is required to keep its VAT records for a minimum of six years. It is an offence to show VAT on invoices when a business is not VAT registered.
Once deregistered a business can no longer recover input tax. The sole exception being when purchases relate to the time the business was VAT registered. This tends to be VAT on invoices not received until after deregistration, but were part of the business’ expenses prior to deregistration. Such a claim is made on a form VAT427
An often overlooked VAT charge is the self-supply of assets on hand at the date of deregistration. A business must account for VAT on any stock and other assets it has on this date if:
These assets will include items such as; certain land and property (usually commercial property which is subject to an option to tax or is less than three year old), un-sold stock, plant, furniture, commercial vehicles, computers, equipment, materials, etc, but does not include intangible assets such as patents, copyrights and goodwill. The business accounts for VAT on the market value of these assets but cannot treat this as input tax, thus creating a VAT cost.
We usually advise that, if commercially possible, assets are sold prior to deregistration. This avoids the self-supply hit and if the purchaser is able to recover the VAT charged the position is VAT neutral to all parties, including HMRC. It is worth remembering that the self-supply only applies to assets on which VAT was charged on purchase and that there is a de minimis limit. We counsel that care is taken to ensure planning is in place prior to deregistration as it is not possible to plan retrospectively and once deregistered the position is crystallised.
HMRC will automatically re-register a business if it realises it should not have cancelled (eg; the anticipated turnover exceeds the deregistration threshold). It will be required to account for any VAT it should have paid in the meantime.
An option to tax remains valid after a registration has been cancelled. A business must monitor its income from an opted property to see whether it exceeds the registration threshold and needs to register again.
If a business owns any capital items when it cancels its registration, it may, because of the rules about deemed supplies (see self-supply above) have to make a final adjustment in respect of any items which are still within the adjustment period. This adjustment is made on the final return.
A business will have two months to submit its final return after it deregisters. On this return the business must account for all outstanding VAT on supplies made and received prior to deregistration. This applies even if it has not been paid. However, it can also reclaim any VAT provided that you have the VAT invoices. If some of the outstanding VAT relates to bad debts a business may claim relief.
If a business is partly exempt its final adjustment period will run from the day following its last full tax year to the date of deregistration. If a business has not incurred any exempt input tax in its previous tax year, the final adjustment period will run from the first day of the accounting period in the final tax year in which it first incurred exempt input tax to the date of deregistration.
If a business deregisters it leaves this scheme the day before its deregistration date. It must, therefore, account for output tax on its final VAT return for sales made on the last day of registration (which must be accounted for outside of the scheme).
If your customers issue VAT invoices on your behalf under self-billing arrangements (or prepare authenticated receipts for you to issue) a deregistering business must tell them immediately that it is no longer registered. They must not charge VAT on any further supplies you make. There are financial penalties if a business issues a VAT invoice or a VAT-inclusive authenticated receipt for supplies it makes after its registration has been cancelled.
A business can claim relief on bad debts it identifies after it has deregistered, provided it:
No claim may be made more than four years from the date when the relief became claimable.
Summary
As may be seen, there is a lot to consider before applying for voluntary deregistration, not all of it good news. Of course, apart from not having to charge output tax, a degree of administration is avoided when leaving the club, so the pros and cons should be weighed up. Planning at an early stage can assist in avoiding in nasty VAT surprises and we would always counsel consulting an adviser before an irrevocable action is taken. As usual in VAT, if a business gets it wrong there may be an unexpected tax bill as well as penalties and interest.
I have to charge MYSELF VAT?!
How comes?!
Well, normally, the supplier is the person who must account to the tax authorities for any VAT due on the supply. However, in certain situations, the position is reversed and it is the customer who must account for any VAT due. Don’t get caught out!
Here are just some of the situations when you have to charge yourself VAT:
Purchasing services from abroad
These will be obtained free of VAT from an overseas supplier. What is known as the ‘reverse charge’ procedure must be applied. Where the reverse charge procedure applies, the recipient of the services must act as both the supplier and the recipient of the services. On the same VAT return, the recipient must account for output tax, calculated on the full value of the supply received, and (subject to partial exemption and non-business rules) include the VAT charged as input tax. The effect of the provisions is that the reverse charge has no net cost to the recipient if he can attribute the input tax to taxable supplies and can therefore reclaim it in full. If he cannot, the effect is to put him in the same position as if had received the supply from a UK supplier rather than from one outside the UK. Thus creating a level playing field between purchasing from the UK and overseas.
Purchasing goods from another EC Member States
Something similar to reverse charge; called acquisition tax, applies to goods purchased from other EC Member States. These are known as acquisitions (they are imports if the goods come from outside the EC and different rules apply). The full value of the goods is subject to output tax and the associated input tax may be recovered by the business acquiring if the goods are used for taxable purposes. If you‘re not already registered for VAT in the UK and acquire goods worth £82,000 or more in the UK from other EC countries, you will have to register for VAT in the UK on the strength of the value of the acquisition tax. A business will also have to complete an Intrastat Supplementary Declaration (SDs) if its acquisitions of goods from the EC exceed an annual amount – currently £1.5 million.
More details on Intrastat Supplementary Declarations here
Deregistration
Any goods on hand at deregistration with a total value of over £1,000 on which input tax has been claimed are subject to a self supply. This is a similar mechanism to a reverse charge in that the goods are deemed to be supplied to the business by the business and output tax is due. However, in these circumstances it is not possible to recover any input tax on the self supply.
Flat Rate Scheme
There is a self supply of capital items on which input tax has been claimed when a business leaves the flat rate scheme (and remains VAT registered).
Mobile telephones
In order to counter missing trader intra-community fraud (‘MTIC’), supplies of mobile ‘phones and computer chips which are made by one VAT registered business to another and valued at £5,000 and over are subject to the reverse charge. This means that the purchaser rather than the seller is responsible for accounting for VAT due.
Land and buildings…. and motor cars
There are certain circumstances where land and buildings must be treated as a self supply… but that is a whole new subject in itself… as is supplies in the motor trade.
Even if the result of a self-supply or reverse charge is VAT neutral HMRC is within its rights to assess and levy penalties and interest in cases where the charge has not been applied; which always seems unfair. However, more often than not simple accounting entries will deal with the matter…. if the circumstances are recognised and it is remembered to actually make the entries!