Q:
Understand that new build is VAT free if you are going to live in the property yourself, but not if it will be let either as a holiday let or to a long term tenant. Would like to find out if there is any way round this legally i.e. to register for VAT as a one off project – any ideas welcome!
A:
HI
Sorry it has taken me a few days to reply to your query. Unfortunately I’m not entirely sure what your query is and I’ve sat down a couple of times to reply and now realised I can’t based on the information you’ve given!
You say “Understand that new build is VAT free if you are going to live in the property yourself, but not if it will be let either as a holiday let or to a long term tenant”. Actually that’s not necessarily true so I need more details about your situation.
First of all, are you talking about a single property? Is it being built or does it already exist? Does the owner have any other business activities and is he/she (or the company or partnership etc) registered for VAT?
If you can give me a bit more information I’ll do my best to help you find the information you need.
Kind regards
Marie
Q:
have been waiting for the council completion certificate to claim the vat back. I have been in the house over 3 months. does this mean I am too late to claim the vat back
A:
If you look at section 14 of the claim form https://www.gov.uk/vat-building-new-home it says that they will accept other evidence
• a habitation letter from the local authority (in Scotland, a temporary
habitation certificate), or
• in England and Wales, a VOA: Notice of making a New Entry into the
Valuation List, or
• in Northern Ireland, a District Valuer’s Certificate of Valuation
• in Scotland, a Joint Valuation Board Notice of Tax Banding, or
• a letter from your bank or building society saying:
‘This is to certify that the.……Bank/Building Society released
on…….(date) the last instalment of its loan secured on the building
at.……because it then regarded that building as complete.’
They aren’t normally unreasonable about accepting late claims if there is a good reason why the claim is late. What I’d suggest is that you submit the form explaining it’s late because you’ve been waiting for the certificate of completion from the council but enclosing any other evidence, such as any of the above. I’d be surprised if they refused the claim if the only reason that it’s late is because you’re waiting on the certificate.