Technical factsheet: international VAT

This extensive factsheet covers a range of issues, including export and import, new rules of origin for customs duty, e-commerce, cross-border refunds and the Northern Ireland protocol

MTD for ITSA: Your first 100 days plan

Watch our webinar to help your practice focus its attention on MTD ITSA now

ACCA guide to... common VAT problems

Problems with VAT are common, either because a business does not have the right systems in place or because of a specific complication

ACCA guide to... Making Tax Digital: how to file a VAT return

MTD is being introduced gradually – and it started in April 2019 with VAT returns

ACCA guide to... VAT accounting schemes

VAT accounting schemes can make your life easier, simplifying your VAT accounting and in some cases improving your cashflow

VAT on e-publications scrapped

The UK government move will slash costs of e-books, newspapers and magazines, improving accessibility, seven months ahead of planned abolition

Technical factsheet: VAT issues with online trading

Identifying the customer and the delivery address is crucial to determine the correct treatment

Budget 2020

ACCA has a host of webinars and support available to help you and your practice understand Budget 2020

Guide to... understanding VAT and duty on imports and exports

Whether you are importing or exporting, there are important VAT and duty rules and procedures

MTD sign-up issues

An update on errors and issues, and what you need to do

Top tips on recovering VAT if you build your own home

A look at the VAT DIY scheme for self-builders

Reimbursement or disbursement

Knowing the difference is important in getting the right VAT treatment

How to reduce HMRC’s VAT penalties

Reduce confusion around VAT penalties

HMRC fails to have its cake and eat it

HMRC loses £300k ‘chocolate brownie’ VAT case

VAT return adjustments

New rules from HMRC will affect how VAT returns are adjusted

Making Tax Digital for VAT: frequently asked questions

From April 2019, most VAT-registered businesses with a taxable turnover above £85,000 must follow the rules for MTD for VAT. There are many reasons why some businesses may not be able to comply with the rules and so it is worth recapping and discussing the exemptions that are available. For more details, download our factsheet of frequently asked questions.

Making Tax Digital for VAT bridging software: a practical guide

With the Making Tax Digital deadline only few weeks away, ACCA and QuickBooks are working together to support firms with their final preparations.

Making tax digital: pilot communication

Members should be aware that HMRC is contacting clients directly about their MTD obligations

Budget 2018

Find out all you need to know about the Budget with our special issue of In Practice

Making tax digital for VAT

VAT Notice 700/22: Making Tax Digital for VAT, HMRC guidance and free ACCA member guidance are available

Overpayments from customers

Don’t overlook the VAT, tax and legal implications of overpayments

VAT partial exemption

A review of the potential pitfalls

Changes to the VAT flat-rate scheme

A look at how the changes may affect users

VAT on e-commerce transactions

How the VAT regime applies to digital services

Tax cases: VAT

The Tax and Chancery tribunal decision applying the CJEU ruling in the case of Shield and Sons Partnership has been issued

Technical factsheet: rights of access to accounting records when those records are held by a third party

Documents belonging to clients must be given to clients (or their agents if authorised to do so) promptly on request, or on ceasing to act for the client, except in those cases where members are able to exercise a right of lien.

Prompt payment discount invoice changes

There have been amendments to the Prompt Payment Discount legislation from 1 April 2015.

VAT update

Revenue and Customs Brief 2 (2015): VAT grouping rules and the Skandia judgment explains HMRC’s current position following the decision of the European Court of Justice judgment.

VAT Update - March 2015

Updates on VAT MOSS and businesses which are alcohol wholesalers.

Tax penalty regime, mitigation, suspension and current developments

HMRC is examining its tax penalty regime. Learn how and have your say.

Revenue and Customs Brief 42 (2014): integration of claims in insolvencies

This brief aims to alert the insolvency profession to upcoming changes in how HMRC deals with the tax affairs of insolvent taxpayers.

Consultation: penalties

HMRC has issued HMRC Penalties: a Discussion Document which is open for comment until 11 May.

VAT: businesses supplying digital services to private consumers

New guidance covering the recent changes to the place of supply of digital services from 1 January 2015 is available from the GOV.UK website. The services covered by the changes are digital services otherwise known as broadcasting, telecommunications and electronic services (BTE).

VAT: educational exemption for catering

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have issued Revenue & Customs Brief 39/2014: VAT exemption for catering and other services linked to education.

Self-assessment tax return – HMRC useful links.

A list of most relevant HMRC links that includes:How to fill in your tax return, residence, remittance basis etc. notes,Capital gains summary notes, UK property notes, Additional information notes, and many more

VAT Update January 2015

VAT Notices Update January 2015

VAT: businesses supplying digital services to private consumers

New guidance covering the recent changes to the place of supply of digital services from 1 January 2015 is available from the GOV.UK website.

Draft Finance Bill 2015 published

The government has published the draft 2015 Finance Bill.

VAT update - December 2014

Details of recent VAT changes.

HMRC direct debt recovery - Additional safeguards announced

Following consultation, HMRC announces additional safeguards as part of the controversial direct debt recovery proposals.

ECJ ruling and the treatment of VAT

Could the VAT treatment of financial services be significantly widened?

VAT Notices - September 2014

A summary of the VAT Notices in force as at September 2014.

VAT Update - November 2014

A round-up of the latest changes to VAT notices and briefings.

VAT changes around the EU

The latest changes to VAT rates from countries within the European Union.

Transfer of a going concern

HMRC has had a change of policy following the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) decision in Robinson Family Ltd [2012] UKFTT 360 (TC). The changes are three-fold and are discussed here policy change by policy change.

VAT Update - October 2014

An update of the latest changes to HMRC's VAT notices and guidance.

Latest news and announcements from HMRC

HM Revenue & Customs latest news August 2014 can be accessed on the link below.

Reasonable excuse

Generally, a 'reasonable excuse' is when some unforeseeable or unusual event beyond somebody's control has prevented that person from filing the return on time. For example: a failure in the HMRC computer system,a serious illness, disability or serious mental health condition has made the taxpayer incapable of filing the tax return etc.

A challenge to filing VAT online

It has been mandatory for businesses to file online VAT returns from 1 April 2012 – but not every business agreed.

Changes to HMRC VAT toolkits

HMRC updates three VAT toolkits.

UK VAT Notices - July 2014

A summary of VAT notices currently in force.

Appeal provisions

Changes to appeal provisions for out of time reviews.

VAT Update - May 2014

A round up of the latest VAT updates.

VAT: Distance Selling

The update below is a refresher on distance selling, highlighting the main rules that apply to distance sales from the UK.

VAT Update - April 2014

Update on VAT and Indirect Taxes - April 2014.

VAT Changes: Budget 2014

Changes to the VAT registration threshold and other business-related VAT matters.

VAT Update - March 2014

This article details an update on the latest VAT briefs and notices.

Customs Notices update

HM Revenue & Customs have updated three Customs notices that focus on importing and exporting reliefs.

VAT Update - February 2014

Details of updated VAT briefs and notices.

VAT update - January 2014

Details of updated VAT briefs and notices.

VAT, indirect taxes and the Autumn Statement 2013

The Autumn Statement resulted in a number of reforms, mainly aimed at specific business types or assets.

VAT Update - November 2013

[04/11/2013] Updated HMRC notices, information sheets, briefs and other updates.

VAT penalties

[31/10/2013] A summary of the VAT penalties currently applicable.

The taxpayer fights back

[29/10/2013] Taxpayers successful in fight against HMRC’s online filing requirements.

VAT Update - October 2013

[29/10/2013] Details of the latest changes to VAT from HMRC, along with changes to VAT Notices and VAT in the European Union.

Zero-rating for indirect exports

[15/10/2013] The VAT rating for goods exported outside the EU is changing.

Tariff Trade Agreement - Central America

[18/09/2013] Reciprocal Preferential Trade Agreement between EU and Central America came into force on 1 August 2013.

Tax avoidance schemes

HMRC, as part of its 'Spotlights' updates, has issued warnings on two types of tax scheme.

VAT update: August 2013

A number of VAT consultations were announced in the Budget 2013.

VAT: single or multiple supplies

Subjective judgement required to apply the basic principles and guidance, as a recent tax case illustrates.

Partial exemption - education

A framework that provides guidance on Partial Exemption (PE) for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) has been made available by HMRC.

Updated HMRC notices

HMRC updated a number of notices in April.

Accession of Croatia to the European Union

HMRC has issued Excise Information Sheet (13) 04 Accession of Croatia to the European Union

Insolvency

HMRC have re-issued Notice700/56 Insolvency.

Carrier bag levy

HMRC have issued Revenue and Customs Brief 07/13 VAT: Introduction of a levy on 'single-use' carrier bags in Northern Ireland.

Pension and employer benefit consultants

HMRC issue briefing relating to pension and employee benefit consultants.

VAT consultations: a roundup

Details of VAT updates.

VAT: European changes

A summary of the latest changes to VAT across Europe.

The 40th anniversary of VAT in the UK

Chas Roy-Chowdhury, May 2013. This paper provides a high-level review of the first 40 years of VAT in the UK, its context in the European Union and its future prospects. We see in the paper the general trend towards governments using VAT to a much greater extent as a significant revenue raiser and the increasing pressures to broaden the VAT base by reducing exemptions and zero rates.

Bad debts

HMRC have revised VAT Notice 700/18: Relief from VAT on bad debts.

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) becomes permanent

ACCA| HMRC Alternative dispute resolution services becomes permanent from 2013/14.

Gaming duty

HMRC has updated and issued Notice 452 Machine Games Duty

Import VAT relief

HM Revenue & Customs have recently updated their VAT Notice on Import VAT relief for goods supplied onward to another EC county, VAT Notice 702/7

VAT Notice 701/21 on gold

HMRC has updated its VAT Notice 701/21 on gold

Finance notice 701/49

HM Revenue & Customs has recently updated its VAT Notice on Finance, Notice 701/49

Retail

HM Revenue & Customs have recently updated their VAT Notice on Retail Schemes, VAT Notice 727/5.

Pension schemes

HMRC has issued Notice 700/17: funded Pension schemes. It provides guidance for employers and trustees on claiming input tax on funded pension scheme expenditure.

Transfer of a business as a going concern (TOGC)

VAT Notice 700/9 Transfer of a business as a going concern is effective now and replaces the April 2008 edition of the notice.

VAT and the transfer of a Going Concern

HMRC issues Brief 30/12 following Tribunal decision.

PAYE penalties podcast

Welcome to ACCA's PAYE penalties podcast

Reasonable excuse - September 2012 update

An update on some recent reasonable excuse tribunal cases.

HMRC - Tackling Tax Avoidance

HMRC has issued a new short briefing on its anti-avoidance activities in relation to aggressive tax avoidance schemes.

VAT: face value vouchers

HMRC has released comments following a recent face value vouchers European Court of Justice (ECJ) case. This alters the tax point for recognition of a supply.

European VAT update

Following numerous announcements concerning VAT in Europe, we summarise the most significant changes.

HMRC pilot to improve post response times

HMRC pilots a "signpost" scheme in an attempt to improve response times for incoming mail.

Making a late tax appeal

Madan Salhan looks at some of the issues and pitfalls to be considered in making a late tax appeal.

Out-of-time claims

HMRC has released comments following a recent European Court of Justice (ECJ) case regarding out-of-time claims.

New ways to register for taxes online

HMRC has launched an online tax registration service to allow registration for all main business taxes (self assessment, corporation tax, PAYE for employers and VAT) in a single website visit.

Real time information and PAYE

RTI is a new way of reporting PAYE information. It will enable employers and pension providers to tell HMRC about payments to employees/pensioners as they are made rather than at the end of the tax year.

VAT update - June 2012

A look at recent VAT changes as at June 2012.