VAT invoices

[fisherman]

[FONT=&quot]Hi !!

I wonder if anyone can help me out at all ???

I buy quite a few small items from large companies for my own VAT registered company. The items I buy are normally no more than say £20-30 in value and these are purchased from places like B&Q, PC world, Argos etc. I normally pay cash.

Now I have receipts but what I want is a full VAT invoice for these items - Ive asked in store and the best I get is a blank look. I dont have a biz account with any of these shops. How do I get a full VAT invoices from these shops ??[/FONT] Or similar larger store shops.

Thanks in advance

 

[sheelagh]

You can ask for a VAT receipt at the till in B&Q and PC world. When I have asked in PC world they usually ask for my business name and address. I'm not sure what they ask for in B&Q. These receipts will have all the details you need in order to claim back the VAT on your VAT return.
Argos (in my experience) is a bit harder. You have to call or email them and request a VAT invoice. Ask in the shop for the contact details. I haven't had to do this for about 5 years, but it used to take about 4 weeks to arrive.

 

[maidofkent]

I'm a bit confused by this thread.

Four of my clients regularly buy items from B&Q, Focus, Staples, etc, and all use the standard receipt given via the till. They seem perfectly acceptable - they have a VAT number, etc. Surely the receipt is the same as a VAT invoice?

Am I missing something?

MoK

 

[wholesale_uk]

Me too....Never had any problem with using normal receipts in my VAT returns...so long as you paid VAT on the item and used it for your business then it will be accepted.....

 

[spencergate]

Yes, standard till receipts from B&Q are fine, they have the VAT number on them - it's on the back, and is perfectly valid. Same goes for most of the large retailers, as long as the VAT number is shown somewhere on the receipt, it's fine.


BUT - some confusion can arise simply because WE don't always know what is VATable and what isn't, and B&Q don't show a vat analysis on the receipt.

 

[Marie Stein]

Hi Fisherman

You only need a full VAT invoice to claim the VAT as input tax if the total cost of your purchase is £100 or more. If the purchase is less than this, HMRC will accept "less detailed" tax invoices to enable you to recover input tax.

The rules for this are at section 16.6.1 of the VAT Guide, Notice 700 on the HMRC website. It explains that less detailed tax invoices must include the following information:

• the supplier' name, address and VAT registration number;
• the time of supply (tax point);
• a description which identifies the goods or services supplied;
• and for each VAT rate applicable, the total amount payable, including VAT and the VAT rate charged, shown in sterling

Most till receipts do actually contain this information so you probably don't need full VAT invoices for your purchases. I know that some till receipts might not show all of this information very clearly - very few have the full address, for example.

But I've never come across a VAT officer who refused to allow a VAT claim for VAT on a £20 - £30 purchase as long as there is some genuine evidence of purchase, such as a till receipt which has a valid VAT registration number and a description of the goods that have been purchased.

Hope this helps
Marie
VAT Exchange

 

[David Griffiths]

This page on the HMRC website refers to a limit of £250 for "simplified or modified" tax invoices issued by a retailer

 

[KM-Tiger]

It used to be £100, I certainly remember that from when the brave new world of VAT started last century.

A tip for those that slip their weekly grocery bill through: Tesco mark the VAT'able items with an asterisk, so make sure you get the VAT as well!




[Only joking!]

 

[David Griffiths]

It used to be £100, I certainly remember that from when the brave new world of VAT started last century.

April Fool's Day 1973. Very appropriate.

I was there!

 

[Marie Stein]

Yes I'd forgotten that the limit was increased to £250 from £100, well spotted David!

Just frustrates me that even the most important HMRC guide on VAT is out of date - I recall that the limit went up from £100 to £250 a few years ago and you'd think that they would have amended the Notice by now!