Introducing myself My name is Edward Pitt and I started my training contract with Dawson Hart on 1 February 2024. I graduated in Law LLB from the University of Reading in 2021. I then completed the LPC alongside an MSc in Law and Business Management in...
Businesses in the construction industry are reminded that on 1 October 2020 the new VAT domestic reverse charge will come into force. This is being introduced as an anti-fraud measure and will see a major change in accounting for VAT on some construction services. When it applies, the customer will become the party responsible for accounting for the VAT on the supply made to them. It is a change in 'B2B' sales: it does not apply to supplies made to end-users such as domestic purchasers.
As is usual with VAT, there are many complexities. However, in basic terms the VAT-registered supplier will issue a VAT invoice in the normal way, with a confirmation that the reverse charge applies to the supply, and the VAT-registered customer will pay the net amount of the invoice to the supplier: the VAT will be declared as output tax on the purchaser's VAT return and also reclaimed as input tax on the purchaser's return.
Compliance with the new regime will undoubtedly cause issues, especially as it is rather non-intuitive in operation.
If you are in any doubt about how to comply with any of your legal obligations, take professional advice.