Taxation logo taxation mission text

Since 1927 the leading authority on tax law, practice and administration

Quirks of the VAT partial exemption rules

11 March 2024 / Mike Thexton
Issue: 4928 / Categories: Comment & Analysis , partial exemption , VAT , VAT
163447
VAT a relief?

Key points

  • VAT exemptions are mandatory: if a supply meets the definition in the law it is exempt. However the definitions of what meets the exemption are narrowly drawn.
  • The standard method of partial exemption is a mechanical procedure involving attribution and apportionment.
  • Effect of temporary letting of part of a hotel before the whole building was available for use.
  • Attribution of different types of input supply.
  • Two trades carried on by a single person are treated as a single business for VAT registration.

Exemption of certain goods and services is described as a ‘VAT relief’: in many cases the intention underlying the law is to reduce the cost of selected types of ‘essential’ supply to the public (healthcare education etc). However the way the rules operate is not always so beneficial to the businesses that have to put them into practice. This article...

Only subscribers may read the full article

Alternatively, you can register free of charge to read a limited amount of subscriber content per month.
Once you have registered, you will receive an email directing you back to read this item in full.
FIVE WAYS TO MAKE ACCOUNTS PRODUCTION AND TAX EASIER.
Download the exclusive Xero
free report here.

New queries
Please email any questions you might have
to: taxation@lexisnexis.co.uk.

back to top icon