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Global VAT Specialist Group Newsletter: HMRC's significant change in position on compensation payments

The latest newsletter from the Global VAT Specialist Group considers HMRC's significant change in position on compensation payments and how they will expect VAT payments for historic compensation settlements.

Ian Marrow from Rickard Luckin explains

Historically, HMRC have taken the view that compensation and similar payments are not consideration for a supply and are outside the scope of UK VAT. However, in the Revenue and Customs Brief 12/20 they have announced that this view has changed due to recent EU cases. They rather bluntly state:

“Most early termination and cancellation fees are therefore liable for VAT. This is the case even if they are described as compensation or damages.”

Even more disconcertingly they also state the action for affected taxpayers:

“Any taxable person that has failed [i.e. taken the agreed course on the VAT treatment when payment was received] to account for VAT to HMRC on such fees should correct the error.

“Any taxable person that has had a specific ruling from HMRC saying that such fees are outside the scope of VAT should account for VAT on such fees received after the issue of this Revenue and Customs Brief.”

Significant impact on taxpayers

The last paragraph seeks to nullify any rulings HMRC may have given in the past for payments received after the date of the guidance (2nd September 2020). This is a huge change in treatment and can have a potential significant impact on affected taxpayers.

From the updated internal manuals the main areas affected appear to be:

• Early termination payments (whether already in the contract or separately negotiated)
• Liquidated payments
• Breach of contract

The current view is that this change does not impact on dilapidation payments (which are treated as compensatory and thus outside the scope) but discussions with HMRC are ongoing to confirm this.

Read the full Newsletter here.

If you would like to know more about this change in interpretation, please contact Ian Marrow at Rickard Luckin - Ian.Marrow@rickardluckin.co.uk.

Our Global VAT Specialists 

Our experienced VAT specialists provide a centre of excellence in the field of VAT & Customs across the world. Besides compliance questions, these experts can answer any day-to-day questions as well as assist you, among others, with the correct qualification of transactions, evaluations of contracts, VAT audits and setting up processes together with creating manuals and guidelines. Visit the microsite to meet the Global team.

To learn more about the activities of the Global VAT Specialist Group, or any of the other Groups, please contact International Business Development Manager, Nicki Lynn nlynn@cpaai.com.

MGI Worldwide with CPAAI is a top 20 ranked global accounting network and association with over 10,000 independent auditors, accountants and tax experts in some 460 locations in almost 100 countries around the world.

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