VAT
Why is HMRC checking PVA more often?
Your business imports goods and accounts for VAT by applying postponed VAT accounting (PVA) on its returns. HMRC is scrutinising returns and issuing large assessments in some cases. What can you do to reduce the risk of getting it wrong?
Accounting for VAT if there is no cash payment
Your business has submitted repayment returns for the last two quarters and you are concerned that you might have underpaid output tax on some supplies where no money has changed hands. Are your concerns justified?
Can sale with no goodwill charge still qualify as TOGC?
You are selling an unprofitable part of your business but the sale does not include any charge for goodwill due to trading losses. Can the sale still qualify as the transfer of a going concern and what conditions must you meet?
What concessions can help your business?
HMRC has been taking away a number of VAT concessions that have existed for many years. Why has this happened and what concessions could still be useful for your business?
What are HMRC’s new procedures for export evidence?
HMRC has updated its guidance about the proof of export you must retain if you ship goods abroad and zero-rate the sales. How will the new guidance affect your business?
Recovering underclaimed input tax
Your business has incorrectly failed to claim input tax on a particular expense for five years. You know it can only be corrected for four years to comply with the legislation, but are you aware of a potential three-month extra claim in some cases?
Could a special method increase your profits?
Your business has used the same partial exemption method for many years. Is it time to consider if a different method will improve your input tax recovery?
Can officers ignore minor input tax errors?
If your business has claimed input tax on an invoice where the supplier has charged VAT incorrectly, HMRC can disallow your claim by issuing an assessment. Can the officer waive that power to achieve a common sense outcome?
Will HMRC treat late processed invoices as errors?
Your business processes invoices when they have been approved by budget holders, so some will be processed a month late, delaying your input tax claim. How might HMRC’s updated guidance help here?
First year discount: can you make a belated claim?
Your business has used the flat rate scheme since you registered for VAT three years ago. A colleague says that you should have reduced your relevant percentage by 1% in the first year. Is this correct and is it too late to claim the discount?
Review how much VAT charged on sales?
A recent Tribunal case ruled that HMRC’s logic was flawed in dealing with a “what is the supply” challenge. Does this mean you should check that you are charging VAT correctly on your sales if there could be doubt about what you are selling?
Why do frozen mileage rates affect VAT?
Your business pays a fixed mileage allowance to staff who use their private cars for business travel. The rates published by HMRC have been frozen since 2011 but is this relevant to determine how much input tax you can claim on the payments?