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January Question and Answer Section
Newsletter issue - January 2013.
Q. If I purchase a Land Rover Defender for use in my partnership business can I reclaim the VAT paid on the purchase? I will use the Land Rover 75% for business and 25% for private journeys.
A. You first need to check that the specific model of Land Rover Defender is regarded as a commercial vehicle for VAT purposes by HMRC. We can make this check for you.
If HMRC agrees the Defender is a commercial vehicle, you can reclaim 75% of the VAT paid on the purchase, on the basis that it will be used for business purposes for 75% of its useful life. You should keep accurate mileage records of all your business journeys so you have evidence of the business use of the vehicle, in case HMRC ask you to prove the business use percentage. If the percentage of business use of the vehicle changes you may have to make an adjustment to your VAT return.
Q. The Christmas feasting has taken its toll on the waistlines of everyone in our company. Can I give the workforce a boost by having the company pay for gym membership for me and all my staff?
A. A company may provide sports or recreational facilities for its workforce, but unless those facilities are used mainly by current and former employees with exclusion of the general public, there will be a benefit in kind tax charge for the employees and the company. A membership for a gym open to any paying member from the general public would be taxed as a benefit for employees, the taxable value being the cost to the company of providing that membership.
Q. My business has started exporting goods. I've heard I need an EORI number. What is it, and how do I get one?
A. The Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) scheme started on 1 July 2009 and replaced the previous TURN system. The EORI provides a unique number for a business to quote to any Customs authority in the EU, for example when the business needs to make a customs declaration when goods arrive or depart from the EU.
If your business had a number under TURN, it should automatically have been issued with an EORI number. If your business is VAT registered in the UK you need to complete form C220 to obtain an EORI number, if you are not VAT registered the form to complete is C220A. We can obtain and file these forms for you.
What our clients say about us...
"Paul has provided accountancy services to my company for 2 years now. I can recommend Paul very highly; his skills as an accountant are highly detailed and professional and he is always available to provide advice. One aspect of the way Paul works that I greatly appreciate is a preference to meet face to face when there is a detailed conversation to be had. I personally find this more productive and is a benefit of working with a small accountancy firm that you wouldn't get with the large faceless providers."
ALISTAIR FAIRWEATHER - PROGRAMME & PROJECT MANAGER, DELIVERING/RESCUING I.T. 7 BUSINESS CHANGE WITH BUDGETS UPTO £50M INC SUPPIER MANAGEMENT
"I couldn't ask for more from Paul as an Accountant. Paul has been accountant to Work Relief Charity Recruitment for just over a year now and is proving an invaluable asset. Accurate, knowledgeable, flexible with an emphasis on service delivery, I would recommend Paul's services to any organisation looking for an accounts professional."
Neil Price - Managing Director at Work Relief Charity Recruitment
"Paul was a referral from a family member when I started my business 2 years ago. As this was the first time I had ever run my own company I was totally clueless over the financial side of matters and was worried that I may have made mistakes in any of my accounting. I needn't have worried as after enaging Paul for a set monthly fee he was always there on the end of the phone for all sorts of questions I had and no matter how trivial they were Paul gave me all the information I required and more and did an excellent and painless job at the end of my first year! Couldn't ask for any better to be honest. Just two words - hire him!!!"
Lee Westrap MBCS - Director - Bulldog IT Services
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