VAT Advice

Haines Watts VAT wins

Here’s just a small selection of how we have helped businesses in many sectors with sucessful VAT cases, where the clients have clawed back many thousands of pounds in rebates.

Catering

Our client won a VAT rebate of nearly £1m by Haines Watts successfully arguing that their product was freshly baked rather than hot takeaway food. HMRC paid out within 4 months.

The HW VAT team have also acted for a major catering client who had incorrectly standard rated the sale of some food at an outlet. The VAT claim, including a retrospective element  was approximately £180,000.

Charities & Not-for-Profit

We won a big VAT refund for a not-for-profit members’ club by challenging the way the VAT rules were being applied to its membership fees. We have advised other charitable organisations on grants they receive from public bodies, increasing their taxable activities on their partial exemption calculation and improving their overall VAT recovery.

Care homes

Our VAT team’s successfully negotiated quite large backdated VAT refunds for several Care Homes. They looked at the VAT paid on a range of general overheads and also building work, extensions and alterations.

Hotel groups

We’ve clawed back VAT overpayments for a number of hotel and catering groups by disputing incorrect VAT treatment of credit card fees, cancellation charges, pre-paid meals & room hire.

Tour operators

A corporate events booking agent was facing higher VAT liabilities because of changes in the Tour Operators Margin Scheme. We changed the way the business booked events and altered the flow of invoices between event organiser, customer and supplier so they were outside of the TOMS scheme. This methodology has since been acknowledged by HMRC and the trade body for event management providers. This has ensured our client is compliant and that they or their customers are not suffering any losses as a result of operating the TOMS scheme.

Sporting clubs

A town football club was planning a new sports pavilion with showers and office space for referees. We sent a detailed clearance application to HMRC, arguing for the supplies to be VAT zero rated. HMRC agreed and the club celebrated a big win: savings to put towards a new all-weather pitch.

Don’t worry if your sector isn’t listed here. VAT rules vary and we can help you, whatever your business. Why don’t you take a minute to get in touch to find out if we can help you.