Value Added Tax Act 1994 (c. 23)

(The document as of February, 2008)

-- Back --

Page 9

Pages: P.1 | P.2 | P.3 | P.4 | P.5 | P.6 | P.7 | P.8 | P.9 | P.10 | P.11 | P.12 | P.13 | P.14 | P.15

(a) any goods whose supply involves their removal to the United Kingdom--

(i) are charged in connection with their removal to the United Kingdom with a duty of excise; or

(ii) on that removal are subject, in accordance with any provision for the time being having effect for transitional purposes in connection with the accession of any State to the European Communities, to any Community customs duty or agricultural levy of the European Community; or

(b) the time of supply of any dutiable goods, or of any goods which comprise a mixture of dutiable goods and other goods, is determined under section 18(4) to be the duty point,

then the value of the supply shall be taken for the purposes of this Act to be the sum of its value apart from this paragraph and the amount, so far as not already included in that value, of the duty or, as the case may be, agricultural levy which has been or is to be paid in respect of the goods.

(2) In this paragraph"dutiable goods" and"duty point" have the same meanings as in section 18.

4 (1) Where goods or services are supplied for a consideration in money and on terms allowing a discount for prompt payment, the consideration shall be taken for the purposes of section 19 as reduced by the discount, whether or not payment is made in accordance with those terms.

(2) This paragraph does not apply where the terms include any provision for payment by instalments.

5 Where a right to receive goods or services for an amount stated on any token, stamp or voucher is granted for a consideration, the consideration shall be disregarded for the purposes of this Act except to the extent (if any) that it exceeds that amount.

6 (1) Where there is a supply of goods by virtue of--

(a) a Treasury order under section 5(5); or

(b) paragraph 5(1) or 6 of Schedule 4 but otherwise than for a consideration); or

then, except where paragraph 10 below applies, the value of the supply shall be determined as follows.

(2) The value of the supply shall be taken to be--

(a) such consideration in money as would be payable by the person making the supply if he were, at the time of the supply, to purchase goods identical in every respect (including age and condition) to the goods concerned; or

(b) where the value cannot be ascertained in accordance with paragraph (a) above, such consideration in money as would be payable by that person if he were, at that time, to purchase goods similar to, and of the same age and condition as, the goods concerned; or

(c) where the value can be ascertained in accordance with neither paragraph (a) nor paragraph (b) above, the cost of producing the goods concerned if they were produced at that time.

(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) above the amount of consideration in money that would be payable by any person if he were to purchase any goods shall be taken to be the amount that would be so payable after the deduction of any amount included in the purchase price in respect of VAT on the supply of the goods to that person.

7 Where there is a supply of services by virtue of--

(a) a Treasury order under section 5(4); or

(b) paragraph 5(3) of Schedule 4 (but otherwise than for a consideration),

the value of the supply shall be taken to be the full cost to the taxable person of providing the services except where paragraph 10 below applies.

8 Where any supply of services is treated by virtue of section 8 as made by the person by whom they are received, the value of the supply shall be taken--

(a) in a case where the consideration for which the services were in fact supplied to him was a consideration in money, to be such amount as is equal to that consideration; and

(b) in a case where that consideration did not consist or not wholly consist of money, to be such amount in money as is equivalent to that consideration.

9 (1) This paragraph applies where a supply of services consists in the provision of accommodation falling within paragraph (d) of Item 1 of Group 1 in Schedule 9 and--

(a) that provision is made to an individual for a period exceeding 4 weeks; and

(b) throughout that period the accommodation is provided for the use of the individual either alone or together with one or more other persons who occupy the accommodation with him otherwise than at their own expense (whether incurred directly or indirectly).

(2) Where this paragraph applies--

(a) the value of so much of the supply as is in excess of 4 weeks shall be taken to be reduced to such part thereof as is attributable to facilities other than the right to occupy the accommodation; and

(b) that part shall be taken to be not less than 20 per cent.

10 (1) This paragraph applies to a supply of goods or services, whether or not for a consideration, which is made by an employer and consists of--

(a) the provision in the course of catering of food or beverages to his employees, or

(b) the provision of accommodation for his employees in a hotel, inn, boarding house or similar establishment.

(2) The value of a supply to which this paragraph applies shall be taken to be nil unless the supply is for a consideration consisting wholly or partly of money, and in that case its value shall be determined without regard to any consideration other than money.

11 (1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, where--

(a) there is a supply of goods or services; and

(b) any sum relevant for determining the value of the supply is expressed in a currency other than sterling,

then, for the purpose of valuing the supply, that sum is to be converted into sterling at the market rate which, on the relevant day, would apply in the United Kingdom to a purchase with sterling by the person to whom they are supplied of that sum in the currency in question.

(2) Where the Commissioners have published a notice which, for the purposes of this paragraph, specifies--

(a) rates of exchange; or

(b) methods of determining rates of exchange,

a rate specified in or determined in accordance with the notice, as for the time being in force, shall apply (instead of the rate for which sub-paragraph (1) above provides) in the case of any supply by a person who opts, in such manner as may be allowed by the Commissioners, for the use of that rate in relation to that supply.

(3) An option for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) above for the use of a particular rate or method of determining a rate--

(a) shall not be exercised by any person except in relation to all such supplies by him as are of a particular description or after a particular date; and

(b) shall not be withdrawn or varied except with the consent of the Commissioners and in such manner as they may require.

(4) In specifying a method of determining a rate of exchange a notice published by the Commissioners under sub-paragraph (2) above may allow a person to apply to the Commissioners for the use, for the purpose of valuing some or all of his supplies, of a rate of exchange which is different from any which would otherwise apply.

(5) On an application made in accordance with provision contained in a notice under sub-paragraph (4) above, the Commissioners may authorise the use with respect to the applicant of such a rate of exchange, in such circumstances, in relation to such supplies and subject to such conditions as they think fit.

(6) A notice published by the Commissioners for the purposes of this paragraph may be withdrawn or varied by a subsequent notice published by the Commissioners.

(7) The time by reference to which the appropriate rate of exchange is to be determined for the purpose of valuing any supply is the time when the supply takes place; and, accordingly, the day on which it takes place is the relevant day for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) above.

12 Regulations may require that in prescribed circumstances there is to be taken into account, as constituting part of the consideration for the purposes of section 19(2) (where it would not otherwise be so taken into account), money paid in respect of the supply by persons other than those to whom the supply is made.

13 A direction under paragraph 1 or 2 above may be varied or withdrawn by the Commissioners by a further direction given by notice in writing.

Section 20.

SCHEDULE 7 Valuation of acquisitions from other member states: special cases

1 (1) Where, in the case of the acquisition of any goods from another member State--

(a) the relevant transaction is for a consideration in money;

(b) the value of the relevant transaction is (apart from this paragraph) less than the transaction's open market value;

(d) that person is not entitled under sections 25 and 26 to credit for all the VAT on the acquisition,

the Commissioners may direct that the value of the relevant transaction shall be taken to be its open market value.

(2) A direction under this paragraph shall be given by notice in writing to the person by whom the acquisition in question is made; but no direction may be given more than 3 years after the relevant time.

(3) A direction given to a person under this paragraph in respect of a transaction may include a direction that the value of any transaction--

(a) in pursuance of which goods are acquired by him from another member State after the giving of the notice, or after such later date as may be specified in the notice; and

(b) as to which the conditions in paragraphs (a) to (d) of sub-paragraph (1) above are satisfied,

shall be taken to be its open market value.

(4) For the purposes of this paragraph the open market value of a transaction in pursuance of which goods are acquired from another member State shall be taken to be the amount which would fall to be taken as its value under section 20(3) if it were for such consideration in money as would be payable by a person standing in no such relationship with any person as would affect that consideration.

(5) For the purposes of this paragraph any question whether a person is connected with another shall be determined in accordance with section 839 of the Taxes Act.

(6) A direction under this paragraph may be varied or withdrawn by the Commissioners by a further direction given by notice in writing.

2 (1) Where, in such cases as the Commissioners may by regulations prescribe, goods acquired in the United Kingdom from another member State--

(a) are charged in connection with their removal to the United Kingdom with a duty of excise; or

(b) on that removal are subject, in accordance with any provision for the time being having effect for transitional purposes in connection with the accession of any State to the European Communities, to any Community customs duty or agricultural levy of the European Community,

then the value of the relevant transaction shall be taken for the purposes of this Act to be the sum of its value apart from this paragraph and the amount, so far as not already included in that value, of the duty or, as the case may be, agricultural levy which has been or is to be paid in respect of those goods.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) above shall not require the inclusion of any amount of duty or agricultural levy in the value of a transaction in pursuance of which there is an acquisition of goods which, under subsection (4) of section 18, is treated as taking place before the time which is the duty point within the meaning of that section.

3 (1) Where goods are acquired from another member State in pursuance of anything which is treated as a supply for the purposes of this Act by virtue of paragraph 5(1) or 6 of Schedule 4, the value of the relevant transaction shall be determined, in a case where there is no consideration, as follows.

(2) The value of the transaction shall be taken to be--

(a) such consideration in money as would be payable by the supplier if he were, at the time of the acquisition, to purchase goods identical in every respect (including age and condition) to the goods concerned; or

(b) where the value cannot be ascertained in accordance with paragraph (a) above, such consideration in money as would be payable by the supplier if he were, at that time, to purchase goods similar to, and of the same age and condition as, the goods concerned; or

(c) where the value can be ascertained in accordance with neither paragraph (a) nor paragraph (b) above, the cost of producing the goods concerned if they were produced at that time.

4 (1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, where--

(a) goods are acquired from another member State; and

(b) any sum relevant for determining the value of the relevant transaction is expressed in a currency other than sterling,

then, for the purpose of valuing the relevant transaction, that sum is to be converted into sterling at the market rate which, on the relevant day, would apply in the United Kingdom to a purchase with sterling by the person making the acquisition of that sum in the currency in question.

(2) Where the Commissioners have published a notice which, for the purposes of this paragraph, specifies--

(a) rates of exchange; or

(b) methods of determining rates of exchange,

a rate specified in or determined in accordance with the notice, as for the time being in force, shall apply (instead of the rate for which sub-paragraph (1) above provides) in the case of any transaction in pursuance of which goods are acquired by a person who opts, in such manner as may be allowed by the Commissioners, for the use of that rate in relation to that transaction.

(3) An option for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) above for the use of a particular rate or method of determining a rate--

(a) shall not be exercised by any person except in relation to all such transactions in pursuance of which goods are acquired by him from another member State as are of a particular description or after a particular date; and

(b) shall not be withdrawn or varied except with the consent of the Commissioners and in such manner as they may require.

(4) In specifying a method of determining a rate of exchange a notice published by the Commissioners under sub-paragraph (2) above may allow a person to apply to the Commissioners for the use, for the purpose of valuing some or all of the transactions in pursuance of which goods are acquired by him from another member State, of a rate of exchange which is different from any which would otherwise apply.

(5) On an application made in accordance with provision contained in a notice under sub-paragraph (4) above, the Commissioners may authorise the use with respect to the applicant of such a rate of exchange, in such circumstances, in relation to such transactions and subject to such conditions as they think fit.

(6) A notice published by the Commissioners for the purposes of this paragraph may be withdrawn or varied by a subsequent notice published by the Commissioners.

(7) Where goods are acquired from another member State, the appropriate rate of exchange is to be determined for the purpose of valuing the relevant transaction by reference to the relevant time; and, accordingly, the day on which that time falls is the relevant day for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) above.

5 In this Schedule--

"relevant transaction", in relation to any acquisition of goods from another member State, means the transaction in pursuance of which the goods are acquired;
"the relevant time", in relation to any such acquisition, means--
(a)
if the person by whom the goods are acquired is not a taxable person and the time of acquisition does not fall to be determined in accordance with regulations made under section 12(3), the time of the event which, in relation to that acquisition, is the first relevant event for the purposes of taxing the acquisition; and
(b)
in any other case, the time of acquisition.

Section 30.

SCHEDULE 8 Zero-rating

Part I Index to zero-rated supplies of goods and services

Subject matter	Group Number	1983 Group Number
Bank notes	Group 11	Group 13
Books etc.	Group 3	Group 3
Caravans and houseboats	Group 9	Group 11
Charities etc.	Group 15	Group 16
Clothing and footwear	Group 16	Group 17
Construction of buildings etc.	Group 5	Group 8
Drugs, medicines, aids for the handicapped etc.	Group 12	Group 14
Food	Group 1	Group 1
Gold	Group 10	Group 12
Imports, exports etc.	Group 13	Group 15
International services	Group 7	Group 9
Protected buildings	Group 6	Group 8A
Sewerage services and water	Group 2	Group 2
Talking books for the blind and handicapped and wireless sets for the blind	Group 4	Group 4
Tax-free shops	Group 14	Group 15A
Transport	Group 8	Group 10

Part II The Groups

Group 1 -- Food

The supply of anything comprised in the general items set out below, except--

(a)

a supply in the course of catering; and

(b)

a supply of anything comprised in any of the excepted items set out below, unless it is also comprised in any of the items overriding the exceptions set out below which relates to that excepted item.

General items

Item No

1 Food of a kind used for human consumption.

2 Animal feeding stuffs.

3 Seeds or other means of propagation of plants comprised in item 1 or 2.

4 Live animals of a kind generally used as, or yielding or producing, food for human consumption.

Excepted items

Item No

1 Ice cream, ice lollies, frozen yogurt, water ices and similar frozen products, and prepared mixes and powders for making such products.

2 Confectionery, not including cakes or biscuits other than biscuits wholly or partly covered with chocolate or some product similar in taste and appearance.

3 Beverages chargeable with any duty of excise specifically charged on spirits, beer, wine or made-wine and preparations thereof.

4 Other beverages (including fruit juices and bottled waters) and syrups, concentrates, essences, powders, crystals or other products for the preparation of beverages.

5 Any of the following when packaged for human consumption without further preparation, namely, potato crisps, potato sticks, potato puffs, and similar products made from the potato, or from potato flour, or from potato starch, and savoury food products obtained by the swelling of cereals or cereal products; and salted or roasted nuts other than nuts in shell.

6 Pet foods, canned, packaged or prepared; packaged foods (not being pet foods) for birds other than poultry or game; and biscuits and meal for cats and dogs.

7 Goods described in items 1, 2 and 3 of the general items which are canned, bottled, packaged or prepared for use--

(a) in the domestic brewing of any beer;

(b) in the domestic making of any cider or perry;

Items overriding the exceptions

Item No

1 Yoghurt unsuitable for immediate consumption when frozen.

2 Drained cherries.

3 Candied peels.

4 Tea, mateg, herbal teas and similar products, and preparations and extracts thereof.

5 Cocoa, coffee and chicory and other roasted coffee substitutes, and preparations and extracts thereof.

6 Milk and preparations and extracts thereof.

7 Preparations and extracts of meat, yeast or egg.

Notes:

(1) "Food" includes drink.

(2) "Animal" includes bird, fish, crustacean and mollusc.

(3) A supply of anything in the course of catering includes--

(a) any supply of it for consumption on the premises on which it is supplied; and

(b) any supply of hot food for consumption off those premises;

and for the purposes of paragraph (b) above"hot food" means food which, or any part of which--

(i) has been heated for the purposes of enabling it to be consumed at a temperature above the ambient air temperature; and

(ii) is at the time of the supply above that temperature.

(4) Item 1 of the items overriding the exceptions relates to item 1 of the excepted items.

(5) Items 2 and 3 of the items overriding the exceptions relate to item 2 of the excepted items; and for the purposes of item 2 of the excepted items"confectionery" includes chocolates, sweets and biscuits; drained, glaceg or crystallised fruits; and any item of sweetened prepared food which is normally eaten with the fingers.

(6) Items 4 to 6 of the items overriding the exceptions relate to item 4 of the excepted items.

(7) Any supply described in this Group shall include a supply of services described in paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 4.

Group 2 -- Sewerage services and water

Item No

1 Services of--

(a) reception, disposal or treatment of foul water or sewage in bulk, and

(b) emptying of cesspools, septic tanks or similar receptacles which are used otherwise than in connection with the carrying on in the course of a business of a relevant industrial activity.

2 The supply, for use otherwise than in connection with the carrying on in the course of a business of a relevant industrial activity, of water other than--

(a) distilled water, deionised water and water of similar purity, and

(b) water comprised in any of the excepted items set out in Group 1.

Note:"Relevant industrial activity" means any activity described in any of Divisions 1 to 5 of the 1980 edition of the publication prepared by the Central Statistical Office and known as the Standard Industrial Classification.

Group 3 -- Books, etc.

Item No

1 Books, booklets, brochures, pamphlets and leaflets.

2 Newspapers, journals and periodicals.

3 Children's picture books and painting books.

4 Music (printed, duplicated or manuscript).

5 Maps, charts and topographical plans.

6 Covers, cases and other articles supplied with items 1 to 5 and not separately accounted for.

Note:

Items 1 to 6--

(a) do not include plans or drawings for industrial, architectural, engineering, commercial or similar purposes; but

(b) include the supply of the services described in paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 4 in respect of goods comprised in the items.

Group 4 -- Talking books for the blind and handicapped and wireless sets for the blind

Item No

1 The supply to the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the National Listening Library or other similar charities of--

(a) magnetic tape specially adapted for the recording and reproduction of speech for the blind or severely handicapped;

(b) apparatus designed or specially adapted for the making on a magnetic tape, by way of the transfer of recorded speech from another magnetic tape, of a recording described in paragraph (f) below;

(c) apparatus designed or specially adapted for transfer to magnetic tapes of a recording made by apparatus described in paragraph (b) above;

(d) apparatus for re-winding magnetic tape described in paragraph (f) below;

(e) apparatus designed or specially adapted for the reproduction from recorded magnetic tape of speech for the blind or severely handicapped which is not available for use otherwise than by the blind or severely handicapped;

(f) magnetic tape upon which has been recorded speech for the blind or severely handicapped, such recording being suitable for reproduction only in the apparatus mentioned in paragraph (e) above;

(g) apparatus solely for the making on a magnetic tape of a sound recording which is for use by the blind or severely handicapped;

(h) parts and accessories (other than a magnetic tape for use with apparatus described in paragraph (g) above) for goods comprised in paragraphs (a) to (g) above;

(i) the supply of a service of repair or maintenance of any goods comprised in paragraphs (a) to (h) above.

2 The supply to a charity of--

(a) wireless receiving sets; or

(b) apparatus solely for the making and reproduction of a sound recording on a magnetic tape permanently contained in a cassette,

being goods solely for gratuitous loan to the blind.

Note: The supply mentioned in items 1 and 2 includes the letting on hire of goods comprised in the items.

Group 5 -- Construction of buildings, etc.

Item No

1 The grant by a person constructing a building--

(a) designed as a dwelling or number of dwellings; or

(b) intended for use solely for a relevant residential purpose or a relevant charitable purpose,

of a major interest in, or in any part of, the building or its site.

2 The supply in the course of the construction of--

(a) a building designed as a dwelling or number of dwellings or intended for use solely for a relevant residential purpose or a relevant charitable purpose; or

(b) any civil engineering work necessary for the development of a permanent park for residential caravans,

of any services other than the services of an architect, surveyor or any person acting as consultant or in a supervisory capacity.

3 The supply to a person of--

(a) materials; or

(b) builders' hardware, sanitary ware or other articles of a kind ordinarily installed by builders as fixtures,

by a supplier who also makes to the same person supplies within item 2 of this Group or Group 6 below of services which include the use of the materials or the installation of the articles.

Notes:

(1) "Grant" includes assignment.

(2) "Dwelling" includes a garage constructed at the same time as a dwelling for occupation together with it.

(3) Use for a relevant residential purpose means use as--

(a) a home or other institution providing residential accommodation for children;

(b) a home or other institution providing residential accommodation with personal care for persons in need of personal care by reason of old age, disablement, past or present dependence on alcohol or drugs or past or present mental disorder;

(d) residential accommodation for students or school pupils;

(e) residential accommodation for members of any of the armed forces;

(f) a monastery, nunnery or similar establishment; or

(g) an institution which is the sole or main residence of at least 90 per cent. of its residents,

except use as a hospital, a prison or similar institution or an hotel, inn or similar establishment.

(4) Use for a relevant charitable purpose means use by a charity in either or both of the following ways, namely--

(a) otherwise than in the course or furtherance of a business;

(b) as a village hall or similarly in providing social or recreational facilities for a local community.

(5) Where part of a building is designed as a dwelling or number of dwellings or intended for use solely for a relevant residential purpose or a relevant charitable purpose (and part is not)--

(a) a grant or other supply relating only to the part so designed or intended for such use (or its site) shall be treated as relating to a building so designed or intended for such use;

(b) a grant or other supply relating only to the part neither so designed nor intended for such use (or its site) shall not be so treated; and

(c) in the case of any other grant or other supply relating to, or to any part of, the building (or its site), an apportionment shall be made to determine the extent to which it is to be so treated.

(6) Where all or part of a building is intended for use solely for a relevant residential purpose or a relevant charitable purpose--

(a) a supply relating to the building (or any part of it) shall not be taken for the purposes of item 2 or 3 as relating to a building intended for such use unless it is made to a person who intends to use the building (or part) for such a purpose, and

(b) a grant or other supply relating to the building (or any part of it) shall not be taken as relating to a building intended for such use unless before it is made the person to whom it is made has given to the person making it a certificate in such form as may be specified in a notice published by the Commissioners stating that the grant or other supply (or a specified part of it) so relates.

(7) The grant of an interest in, or in any part of--

(a) a building designed as a dwelling or number of dwellings, or

(b) the site of such a building,

is not within item 1 if--

(i) the interest granted is such that the grantee is not entitled to reside in the building, or part, throughout the year; or

(ii) residence there throughout the year, or the use of the building or part as the grantee's principal private residence, is prevented by the terms of a covenant, statutory planning consent or similar permission.

(8) Where the major interest referred to in item 1 is a tenancy or lease--

(a) if a premium is payable, the grant falls within that item only to the extent that it is made for consideration in the form of the premium; and

(b) if a premium is not payable, the grant falls within that item only to the extent that it is made for consideration in the form of the first payment of rent due under the tenancy or lease.

(9) The reference in item 2 to the construction of a building or work does not include a reference to--

(a) the conversion, reconstruction, alteration or enlargement of an existing building or work; or

(b) any extension or annexation to an existing building which provides for internal access to the existing building or of which the separate use, letting or disposal is prevented by the terms of any covenant, statutory planning consent or similar permission;

and the reference in item 1 to a person constructing a building shall be construed accordingly.

Pages: P.1 | P.2 | P.3 | P.4 | P.5 | P.6 | P.7 | P.8 | P.9 | P.10 | P.11 | P.12 | P.13 | P.14 | P.15

-- Back --

Stat