VAT return missing supplier/lender invoice

[Orla_Erikksson]

Good morning All

I was hoping I could get advice on a VAT return submission. At the beginning of February I signed a finance agreement with a lender for a piece of equipment and I paid the deposit for the equipment which included a VAT fee. I have to submit a return by April 7th however I haven’t yet received a copy of the agreement or deposit invoice which I wanted to submit along with my return. I’ve chased after it, even for a digital copy but it seems they’re quite slow in processing things. The only evidence I have is an unsigned copy of the finance agreement and my email communications with the lender. They have paid the supplier though and the equipment is due for delivery.

In the event that the agreement doesn’t arrive before the 7th do I leave it off my VAT input claim and submit it in the next quarter or can I go ahead and submit without concrete proof? I'm submitting through Xero and all the other transactions have an invoice or receipt attached.

 

[StevensOnln1]

How much VAT is involved? If it isn't a large amount I'd just include it in the return and hope that the invoice will have arrived before any HMRC query arises.

 

[Orla_Erikksson]

How much VAT is involved? If it isn't a large amount I'd just include it in the return and hope that the invoice will have arrived before any HMRC query arises.

It's about £850, Its a large amount to me but not sure if HMRC would think the same? Currently the missing invoice is the only thing holding up my submission and I have much more to claim than to pay. I've tried twice giving them a bell but they're impossible to get hold of at the moment.

 

[DontAsk]

It's only the half-a-dozen or so figures that get submitted on a VAT return.

HMRC will be none the wiser about the invoice.

 

[Orla_Erikksson]

It's only the half-a-dozen or so figures that get submitted on a VAT return.

HMRC will be none the wiser about the invoice.

I assumed with MTD and submitting through Xero they would be more thorough but perhaps I'm mistaken!

 

[DontAsk]

I assumed with MTD and submitting through Xero they would be more thorough but perhaps I'm mistaken!

MTD just means you have to send the figures digitally from your software rather than manually on a piece of paper, or through the HMRC website. Whether you use Xero or any other software that supports MTD is irrelevant.

 

[Orla_Erikksson]

MTD just means you have to send the figures digitally from your software rather than manually on a piece of paper, or through the HMRC website. Whether you use Xero or any other software that supports MTD is irrelevant.

Thank you for clarifying!

 

[lesvatadvice]

This is a common occurrence. However HMRC have discretion to allow input tax in absence of an invoice.
Have a read through para 16.8; www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-guide-notice-700#section16

 

[DontAsk]

If you do not receive the necessary documentation before the VAT return deadline, you can still go ahead and submit the return using the information you have available, including the unsigned copy of the finance agreement and your email communications with the lender.

And how do you go about submitting the "unsigned copy of the finance agreement and your email communications with the lender"?

Which MTD software do you use that allows documents to be attached and submitted?

Do you think someone at HMRC is going to review millions of documents?