An Introduction to VAT

What is VAT?
VAT is a tax chargeable on taxable supplies made in the UK by taxable persons. Credit is given for tax paid to other businesses and the net balance is payable or reclaimable - normally on a quarterly basis.

Taxable Persons
A taxable person is defined as one of the following carrying on a business:

• An individual
• A partnership
• An unincorporated association, e.g. trust or charity
• A limited company

Supplies
VAT law covers all types of supply of goods or services (outputs), whether of a revenue or capital nature. Supplies include sale, hire, or loan of goods. Output normally falls into four categories:

1. Positive rated - taxable at 17.5% or 5%
2. Zero rated - including socially or economically important items, e.g. exports, most food, books, newspapers, public transport, drugs on prescription, children's clothing.
3. Exempt supplies - including necessities such as insurance, postage, finance, education, and health.
4. Some receipts are outside the scope of VAT, e.g. dividends, shares of profit compensation for losses, non-UK supplies.

Should I be registered for VAT?
You should notify Customs and Excise when:

• Vatable turnover for the past twelve months exceeds £52,000
• There are reasonable grounds for believing that your turnover for the next 30 days will exceed £52,000

In the first case, notification must be within 30 days of the end of the relevant months. In the latter case, notification must be within 30 days of the date on which grounds first existed.
It is important to monitor turnover because there is a penalty for late registration. This is in addition to the tax payable.

Can I register for VAT if my vatable turnover does not exceed the prescribed limits?
It is possible to register voluntarily provided you have a bona fide business.

Cash accounting scheme
There is a special scheme applicable to businesses where taxable turnover is expected to be not more than £350,000 in the next 12 months.
This allows the trader to account for VAT on the basis of payments received and made rather than on tax invoices issued and received.
It may be advantageous to use cash accounting from the date of registration, although some businesses will not benefit from this scheme.

Retail schemes
Special schemes of accounting for VAT are available to retailers. We can advise on the best choice.

Credit for input tax
Input tax paid on purchases can be recovered by registered taxable persons, who are able to offset input tax against their output tax liabilities. Traders with fully exempt outputs cannot register or reclaim any input tax. Credit is available for all VAT paid on inputs where a VAT invoice is available, except for tax on private expenditure, business entertainment, motor cars, certain building materials, and goods bought under a second hand goods scheme. Recovery of input tax may be restricted if the business makes both taxable and exempt supplies.

How often will I have to complete a VAT return?
Every quarter, a return is issued and must be submitted to Customs and Excise no later than 30 days from the end of the quarter. Make returns and payments on time because extensive legislation exists to levy penalties on defaulters. Businesses with regular payments may make monthly returns. Those using the Annual Accounting Scheme need make only one return per year, which has to be submitted two months after the end of the scheme year.
We would be pleased to advise you what records you need to keep to complete the VAT return.

Can I file my VAT return electronically?
A live pilot for electronic VAT returns is being run from March 2000. If this is successful the service will become operational during 2001/02. Small businesses that file their VAT returns via the internet in 2001/02, and pay the tax due electronically, will receive a one off discount of £50.

When can, or must, I deregister?

• You must deregister when taxable supplies are no longer made, e.g. when trading ceases.
• You can deregister when anticipated turnover for the next year (measured from any time) is less than £50,000, but this may not be in your best interests - seek our advise first.

Tax invoices
Specific rules are laid down as to the form and content of tax invoices. These are to ensure that all the necessary information is recorded for the determination of the rate of tax to be applied, the liability of the supplier to account for the output tax due on supply, and the entitlement of the recipient to reclaim all or any of it as input tax.
There is no requirement to issue a tax invoice for a zero-rated or exempt supply. However, it would seem appropriate to issue some form of invoice for either type of supply to establish that VAT is not chargeable on it.
Copies of all tax invoices issued and received must be retained for at least six years unless a shorter period (normally at least three years) is agreed with Customs and Excise.

A tax invoice is required to show:

• An identifying number
• The date of the supply and the date of issue of invoice
• The name, address, and registration number of supplier
• The name and address of the person to whom the goods and services are supplied
• The type of supply by reference to categories e.g. sale, hire purchase, hire lease, rental etc
• A description that is adequate for the purposes of identifying the goods or service supplied
• For each description the quantity of the goods or the extent of the services, the rate of tax, and the amount payable, excluding tax
• The total amount payable excluding tax
• The rate of any cash discount offered
• The total VAT payable

Anyone supplying goods or services direct to the public does not have to supply a tax invoice unless the customer requires one. Where the tax inclusive value of supply is not more than £100.00, the supplier may issue a simplified form of invoice giving only the following details:

• Name, address and registration number of the retailer
• Date of supply
• A description, adequate to identify the goods or services supplied
• The total amount payable including tax
• The rate of tax at the time of supply

Please contact us if you would like further help or advice.