UK vat on UK purchase invoices

MidlandsM

Hi,

I got UK vat (@ 20%) showing on purchase invoices from a company in the uk. They are one of those companies that will not zero rate vat, just expect you to claim it all back, even if you afford them your vat no, that don't want to know.

Can I claim the vat back like any other invoice, just convert the amount to €uros from stg?

What do people here do in this instance?

Thanks,

MM

Gaillimh1976

Been a while since I dealt with this, but there used to be some way to reclaim it from UK revenue via an office in (London)Derry

Definitely can't reclaim on your normal VAT return

Might be worth a look on the HMRC website ?

MidlandsM

Gaillimh1976 wrote: »

Been a while since I dealt with this, but there used to be some way to reclaim it from UK revenue via an office in (London)Derry

Definitely can't reclaim on your normal VAT return

Might be worth a look on the HMRC website ?

thanks - yeah, there is a way of doing it alright, as there is a crowd who will do it on your behalf, but take a margin......and I'm not letting them have a margin for me just filling in a few forms!

Mr. Incognito

They should apply a zero rate if you provide them with your VAT number.

if not

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vat/refunds/unregistered-persons-vat-reclaims-faqs.html

Sunny Dayz

If you are using ROS online, you can apply for the VAT refund online using EVR.

Corkbah

the OP is talking about a UK company charging him/her UK VAT rate despite the OP giving their irish VAT number - which would mean the company must apply a 0% VAT rate as an out of country sale.

OP - I would consider asking the company if this is protocol for all overseas/international transactions and if so inform them they are in breach of UK law.

if they admit that its normal - contact UK revenue and explain the situation - let them investigate the company - chances are they are probably based in one of those tax grey areas guernsey/jersey and as such probably just not worth dealing with …but no harm in passing on the information to avoid to people you know.

Marcusm

Corkbah wrote: »

the OP is talking about a UK company charging him/her UK VAT rate despite the OP giving their irish VAT number - which would mean the company must apply a 0% VAT rate as an out of country sale.

OP - I would consider asking the company if this is protocol for all overseas/international transactions and if so inform them they are in breach of UK law.

if they admit that its normal - contact UK revenue and explain the situation - let them investigate the company - chances are they are probably based in one of those tax grey areas guernsey/jersey and as such probably just not worth dealing with …but no harm in passing on the information to avoid to people you know.

Guernsey and Jersey are probably pretty grey at this time of the year but the are very clear as far as VAT goes, they don't have any!

OP needs to make an 8th/13th Directive reclaim from HMRC.

By the way, zero rating for dispatches/removals in circumstances such as this imposes documentation burdens on the supplier and I do not believe that they are required to use the scheme - they can simply charge VAT if they wish by failing to gather or note some of the information required to zero rate it. They are restricting their potential market but that is their issue.

srsly78

I used the ROS EVR facility recently, within a few weeks I got a letter from HMRC in Derry rejecting my claim It had a follow-up email address on it tho, and I was quickly able to dispute the resolution and get it approved.

It was a funny one tbh, because I had bought 2xNexus 4 phones from google play UK - who actually have an Irish VAT number but do not sell in Ireland. So I was reclaiming UK vat from an Irish company! As supporting documentation I had to send all the parcel motel info to HMRC (to prove the goods had left the UK). Despite me arguing with google about this, and providing them my vat number etc they would absolutely not zero-rate or refund the money. I had to go through HMRC - who were actually surprisingly efficient and reasonable about it.



I tried using the online EVR thing last year but it did not seem to be active then.

Something that is handy to note:
amazon.co.uk let you register your VAT number and will then zero-rate all your purchases. However, this does not apply to the many 3rd party sellers on amazon.... In theory I could file loads of EVR claims for the various widgets I have bought but it isn't worth the hassle for such small amounts.

MidlandsM

Corkbah wrote: »

OP - I would consider asking the company if this is protocol for all overseas/international transactions and if so inform them they are in breach of UK law.

.

thanks for the info.

is it definately illegal for them to charge me vat then, when they know I've a vat no?

also, they are uk mainland based, not jersey or the like.

nompere

MidlandsM wrote: »

thanks for the info.

is it definately illegal for them to charge me vat then, when they know I've a vat no?

also, they are uk mainland based, not jersey or the like.

This page gives you UK HMRC's take on export sales.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/managing/international/exports/goods.htm#1

They never say that it is mandatory to zero-rate sales to other EU member states. It's hard to see how you could say it is illegal for your UK supplier to charge you UK VAT.

I don't think complaining to HMRC will get you anywhere.

srsly78

HMRC will refund you if the requirements are met. HMRC will likely also get annoyed at the retailer if you keep filing legitimate EVR requests I guess.