This Town and Parish Council VAT Guide is an easy reference guide for those engaged in administering the financial affairs of town and parish councils in England and community councils in Wales. It focuses on the typical range of activities that these local authorities will have. It will be of use to town and parish clerks or treasurers and those responsible for the book-keeping of these organisations, as well as those responsible for auditing such bodies. The authors give the reader the basic concepts of the tax and a degree of familiarity with the common technical terms used by H M Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in its own guidance. The most common terms are set out in the glossary.
It will be of use to town and parish clerks or treasurers and those responsible for the book-keeping of these organisations, as well as those responsible for auditing such bodies.
The authors have avoided using unnecessary jargon and overly technical language in this book, while giving the reader the basic concepts of the tax and a degree of familiarity with the common technical terms used by H M Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in its own guidance. The most common terms are set out in the glossary. This makes it easier to understand how to recognise your VAT liabilities and what the associated implications and compliance requirements are.
Table of Contents
1. What and who is this book for?
2. An overview of VAT
2.1. HMRC Guidance
3. Basic philosophy and mechanics of VAT
3.1. The mechanics of VAT
3.2. VAT Returns
3.3. Making Tax Digital
3.4. Supplies of Goods or Services
3.5. VAT Reliefs
3.6. VAT recovery
3.7. Obligation to provide an invoice
3.8. Correcting Errors
3.9. Tax Points
3.10. Trading outside the UK - Reverse Charge
4. VAT for Local Authorities
4.1. Overview
4.2. Definition of local authority
4.3. VAT registration
4.4. Recovery of VAT by local authorities (including unregistered bodies)
4.5. Business or Non-Business?
4.6. Recovering VAT on exempt business activities, including partial exemption
5. Specific Activities
5.1. Advertising
5.2. Allotments
5.3. Cemeteries
5.4. Community Projects
5.5. Crèches and Playgroups
5.6. Crematoria
5.7. Council as Trustee
5.8. District Council Delegated Functions
5.9. Events & Tourism
5.10. Fundraising events
5.11. Garage Rental
5.12. Grants and Donations
5.13. Land, Property and Building Works (including the option to tax)
5.14. Markets
5.15. Parking facilities
5.16. Planning and Licensing
5.17. Publications
5.18. Public Toilets
5.19. Recreational Facilities
5.20. Room hire
5.21. Section 106 Funding
5.22. Shared Services and Partnerships
5.23. Sponsorship
5.24. Sporting Services
5.25. Storage facilities
5.26. Supplies of staff
5.27. Youth Clubs
6. Glossary of Terms
7. List of Useful HMRC Publications
8. WORKED EXAMPLES
8.1. Registration issues
8.2. VAT Returns
8.3. Partial Exemption
9. Relevant Legislation
9.1. Principal VAT Directive
9.2. VAT Act 1994
9.3. Value Added Tax Regulations (SI 1995/2518)
