General information
Normally, suppliers account for VAT, but in specific cases, the customer must account for VAT due. Here are crucial situations:
Purchasing Services from Abroad (Reverse Charge)
- Services from overseas suppliers are VAT-free.
- Recipients apply the reverse charge, acting as both supplier and recipient on the same VAT return:
- Account for output tax (full supply value) in Box 1.
- Include VAT from Box 1 as input tax in Box 4 (subject to partial exemption/non-business rules).
- Record full supply value in Boxes 6 and 7.
- Value of Supply: Based on consideration paid (money or equivalent if non-monetary). Excludes UK VAT but includes foreign taxes.
- Time of Supply: When payment is made or, for non-monetary consideration, the last day of the VAT period when services are performed.
- If input tax is fully attributable to taxable supplies, there’s no net cost. Otherwise, it mirrors a UK supply, ensuring fairness.
Deregistration
- Goods on hand at deregistration (value >£1,000) with claimed input tax trigger a self-supply.
- The business is deemed to supply itself, with output tax due but no input tax recovery.
Flat Rate Scheme
On leaving the flat rate scheme (while remaining VAT-registered), a self-supply applies to capital items with claimed input tax.
Domestic Reverse Charge (DRC)
- Applies to standard/reduced-rated construction services between VAT-registered construction businesses.
- The recipient accounts for VAT, paying it to HMRC instead of the supplier, and can reclaim it per normal VAT rules.
- DRC applies up the supply chain until the recipient is an end user (not making construction supplies).
Mobile Telephones and Computer Chips
- To combat missing trader intra-community fraud (MTIC), supplies of mobile phones/computer chips valued at £5,000+ between VAT-registered businesses are subject to reverse charge.
- The purchaser accounts for VAT, not the seller.
Road Fuel and Power for Private Use
- Business fuel used privately triggers a self-supply.
- VAT is based on HMRC’s road fuel scale charges (per vehicle, per quarter) or calculated using detailed mileage records for actual business use.
Land, Buildings, and Motor Cars
Specific self-supply rules apply to certain land, building, and motor trade transactions (details complex, not covered here).
Penalties
- Even if VAT-neutral, failing to apply reverse charge/self-supply can lead to HMRC penalties and interest.
- Simple accounting entries can resolve issues if recognized and recorded correctly.
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