VAT WONT ALLOW OUR INDUSTRY SUCCESS PLEASE HELP

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TroutFishery

Free Member
Oct 2, 2022
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0
Hi,
Not sure if this has been covered before however. I have a fly angling small stillwater trout fishery business.

I’m aware of most Fisheries being slightly avoidance in what they put through the books however this is something I don’t agree with nor wish to do as I wish to make the business grow to a point where Incan sell it on to retire.

Let me explain why growing the business in this industry is an issue when it comes to VAT. Firstly perhaps reading these court decisions will help what we do and why decisions have already been made through HMRC being appealed against their views however they won.

I can’t post the web links on this thread so look up Google for the legal judgements.
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trout fishery to avoid VAT how can we cope
VATLP10200
and
On the hook the overall tax treatment on the activity of fishing

If we purchase to make our waters appeal to anglers to catch lots of fish we need to stock the waters regularly. For example say I was to purchase £85,000 worth of fish (no VAT when purchased as it’s a food item) then sold permits for anglers to fish and took in only £85,000 hence making no money the £85,000 would be standard rate VAT. Therefore I would always run a negative. We in reality need to probably put in around £45,000. So with even just myself and 1 staff (unachievable when we need to open 7 days a week from early til dark, so need time off at some point) with costs of just fuel getting to work, fuel to run generators, and a small wage we would hit the threshold very quickly. The more we take in, the more VAT ‘obviously’, but we cannot pass this onto the customer as we don’t sell them a guaranteed goods/products. So in essence we buy stock without VAT but using it counts towards VAT. How do we grow the business?

The main issue is 99.9% of anglers are sports only anglers so almost no one kills fish or even wants to. If we only charged a minimum fee for the fishing and a separate price per fish killed and taken this taking price would be zero rated. If we did this 99.9% are still not taking so we are none the better off.

It appears I have a business that will always run negative if we get better. How can this promote growing our type of business.

I love the business and can make it hugely profitable regarding income but this will always kill it. Does anyone have any ideas how to legally beat this?

Thanks
 
D

Deleted member 335660

I think you are getting too hooked on VAT issue and not focussing on the basic cost-Sales issue.

It’s a valued added tax and you merely pass on VAT you have collected and can deduct money you have paid out.

The underlying issue is can you earn enough in a year to pay your costs.

Take your fish costs (£45,000) add all your other expected costs and divide it by the number of customers you expect in a year. This plus your profit plus VAT is what they need to pay. If they won’t pay it, you don’t have a viable business.
 
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Your business viability is all theory until we know your sales and costs!
 
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pentel

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  • Mar 12, 2011
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    Leicester UK
    For example say I was to purchase £85,000 worth of fish (no VAT when purchased as it’s a food item) then sold permits for anglers to fish and took in only £85,000 hence making no money the £85,000 would be standard rate VAT

    The main issue is 99.9% of anglers are sports only anglers so almost no one kills fish or even wants to.

    Year 1 You buy £85,000 worth of fish

    You charge £85,000 for people to catch them and put them, back (including VAT, so after paying VAT to HMRC you have £70,833.33 left

    You also still have £85,000 worth of fish still in stock.

    You started with £85,000 you now have £85,000 worth of fish & £70,833 total value £155833.

    Year 2 over winter £10,000 of fish die. You top up you fish with an extra £20,000

    You now have £95,000 worth of fish

    You charge £90,000 for people to catch them and put them, back (including VAT, so after paying VAT to HMRC you have £75,000 left

    You now have £95,000 worth of fish, and £144,833 total £239,833

    all for an outlay of £85,000.

    Yes, this is an oversimplification and there will be other costs. It is an illustration of the difference that not valuing your stock makes.
     
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    Gyumri

    Free Member
    Nov 25, 2008
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    So in essence we buy stock without VAT but using it counts towards VAT. How do we grow the business?
    You buy an edible fish like trout for say £1 and sell it for £10, instead of charging £10 for a daily permit which is standard rated for VAT purposes.

    Allow the permit holder to fish as long as he likes on the day for free or sell the permit for £1. The purchase and sale of raw edible fish is zero rated.

    Don't forget to buy a few extra fish from your £10 to throw into the river otherwise the sucker - sorry I mean the permit holder - is likely to throw a tantrum if he can't catch anything.

    I can't promise that the VAT man won't find anything fishy about the fact that you're selling a trout for £10 when they're only worth £1.

     
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    TroutFishery

    Free Member
    Oct 2, 2022
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    Year 1 You buy £85,000 worth of fish

    You charge £85,000 for people to catch them and put them, back (including VAT, so after paying VAT to HMRC you have £70,833.33 left

    You also still have £85,000 worth of fish still in stock.

    You started with £85,000 you now have £85,000 worth of fish & £70,833 total value £155833.

    Year 2 over winter £10,000 of fish die. You top up you fish with an extra £20,000

    You now have £95,000 worth of fish

    You charge £90,000 for people to catch them and put them, back (including VAT, so after paying VAT to HMRC you have £75,000 left

    You now have £95,000 worth of fish, and £144,833 total £239,833

    all for an outlay of £85,000.

    Yes, this is an oversimplification and there will be other costs. It is an illustration of the difference that not valuing your stock makes.
    Thanks for breaking that down. Not quite as simple as that as you say but basic principle seems clear. The fisheries not running legitimately is the problem but I have run everything and treated the staff etc as I was treated during my life which means I can sleep at night. I appreciate the time everyone has taken to offer advice and gives me something to ponder moving forward. Fingers crossed I get it right. Cheers everyone for assistance.
     
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