0161 883 2120

VAT Assessment experts consulted. Assessment withdrawn.

VAT assessment experts

HMRC disputed the VAT treatment that a client had included in various VAT returns in relation to “retrospective discounts” and raised a number of VAT assessments totalling in excess of £160,000 plus interest and the threat of VAT penalties. The matter was referred to one of our VAT specialists by the businesses Accountants.

Some of the “retrospective discounts” were passed on to associated companies of the initial recipient which HMRC initially contended should be ignored in relation to VAT.  Overall our VAT assessment experts, once consulted, contended that the issue should result in a nil net sum.  

Appeals were lodged by one our VAT assessment experts at Solve VAT with the Tribunal and after almost an 18 month period of negotiations HMRC eventually agreed with our position resulting in no overall cost of VAT, no interest charged by HMRC and no VAT penalties.

Subsequently it appeared that HMRC now accepted as correct what we had earlier described as “the most likely scenario” that the assessments on our client were due but that our clients associated companies were entitled to offset most of the amounts assessed by way of adjustments to VAT returns and then refund our client.

Using our VAT advisory services VAT assessments can be withdrawn in appropriate circumstances.

Further information about our VAT assessment experts or phone us on 0161 883 2120.

HMRC  manual on VAT assessments  https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/vat-assessments-and-error-correction

 

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Meet The Team

Peter Smallwood Headshot vat director

PeterSmallwood

Peter has assisted a variety of clients including overseas businesses, large multi-national businesses, family businesses, partnerships and sole proprietors. Peter has represented clients at VAT ADR meetings and at the First-Tier Tax Tribunal. Initial negotiations with HMRC can be crucial and as a VAT specialist Peter has been able to make representations to HMRC that have resulted in a number of clients to successfully resolve matters without the need of further action. Peter has been instructed by a number of firms of Solicitor’s to provide expert witness reports in relation to VAT matters.

Experience

Peter has over 25 years’ experience as a leading VAT specialist working in the profession including being a VAT Director at Deloittes. Prior to working within the profession he worked as a Senior VAT Officer at what is now HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Indeed he remembers the days prior to HMRC when he worked at HM Customs & Excise (HMC&E) and before specialising in VAT his work experience included Excise Duty and Customs Duty matters.

Rachel Davies VAT litigator

RachelDavies

Rachel Davies began her working life in the legal profession. When appropriate Rachel will instruct Counsel on behalf of clients for some of the more complex appeals on which we are instructed. Some appeals where Counsel has been instructed by Rachel have resulted in HMRC conceding the matter only a matter of days before a hearing was due to take place.

She moved on from the legal profession and over 25 years ago began working with the VAT group at Deloitte. Rachel was instrumental in setting up Solve VAT in 2002 and almost the first matter she worked on was what ultimately turned out to be a successful appeal on behalf of a client to the High Court from what was then the VAT and Duties Tribunal.