
The VAT Reverse charge is coming! Are you ready?
21 February 2020
By EEBS
Get your CIS Payroll best practices, industry news and advice here!
21 February 2020
By EEBS
Thank you to the Taxation Magazine for publishing this helpful article on this somewhat complicated subject.
HMRC reminds construction industry businesses to make sure they are ready for important changes to the VAT rules that come into force later this year.
From 1 October 2020, the VAT reverse charge will be introduced for VAT-registered contractors and subcontractors in the construction industry. Simply put, these rules mean that the customer (contractor) must pay the VAT due on building and construction services they receive to HMRC, instead of the supplier (subcontractor). The supplier’s invoice must make it clear to the customer that the reverse charge applies and the customer can then recover the VAT on the same VAT return, in line with normal rules.
The VAT reverse charge applies only to transactions between VAT-registered contractors and subcontractors where payments must be reported through the construction industry scheme (CIS). The new changes are being implemented as a response to missing trader fraud and are designed to prevent annual losses estimated at about £100m.
If a business is not VAT registered, or if it provides services directly to an end user or someone connected to an end user (including private individuals, landlords and tenants) the VAT reverse charge will not apply.
What Must be done
To make sure that affected businesses are ready for the changes, they will need to:
Subcontractors will also need to confirm that they are working for a VAT-registered contractor and that the payment they receive has been or will be reported through the CIS.
Reverse charge help
HMRC understands that implementing the domestic reverse charge could cause difficulties. The department will therefore apply a light-touch approach for errors made in good faith within six months of the introduction of the legislation.
FIND OUT MORE
Our team is happy to answer your CIS Payroll questions. Fill out the form and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible.
Need to talk to EEBS straight away about CIS Payroll?
01245 493832