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0161 477 6600

Our office will be closed from Tuesday 23rd December and will reopen on Friday 2nd January 2026.
Please note that we are not the HMRC tax office; their contact number is 0300 200 3700.

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Testimonials

"Client service is of the utmost importance to us as a firm of Accountants and Business Advisors. Having the ability to be able to contact David Miller for immediate advice on VAT and Customs issues ensures that we are able to deliver our efficient tax service successfully and fulfil our client's expectations, especially in circumstances when they ask for guidance on crucial matters which require a tight deadline. Having the ability to engage David's service to attend client's HMRC visits has proved invaluable, particularly as David's knowledge is often superior to that of the Officer in attendance! David also offers creative planning solutions to problems and is very proactive with advice as soon as any legislation changes are known. We could not offer the same quality of service to our clients without David and his team."

Annette Stone, Mark Holt and Co

"The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes have had a close relationship with The VAT People for the past seven years as they have helped to steer us through the complex process of reclaiming overpaid VAT and successfully accomplishing our de-registration from VAT. They have been able to quickly grasp the nature of our organisation and clearly see the arguments needed to persuade HMRC of our case. The VAT People also had the persistence to continue pursuing our claim until a satisfactory outcome. Rob McCann has always made time to be available whenever his expertise has been required to explain the ongoing situation to our governing trustees and committees. His helpful nature and ability to understand and explain complicated areas of the law has been appreciated and valued."

Simon Kevin, Speechley

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Latest Case Studies

Partial Exemption Review - saving of £61,000Recovering £60,000 VAT for Property DeveloperDisaggregation Notice Served by HMRC - £50,000 savingThe importance of choosing the correct date of registrationPension scheme at risk of losing £60k
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Useful Information

Get the vital information you need quickly and easily by watching one of our guidance videos - topics include VAT assessments and penalties, VAT for charities, and maximising VAT recovery.

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Meet the Team

Rob McCann

Director VAT & Customs Services

Steve Howard

VAT Consultant

Tamara Habberley

VAT Consultant

Jack Ray-Atkins

VAT & Customs Consultant

David Miller

Director Customs and International VAT Consultant
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Company Details

The VAT People are leading VAT and Customs Duty consultants in the UK. We work with clients all over the country and recent research has shown that we are one of the UK's largest and most comprehensive sources of VAT and Customs advice.

Trinity House, Newby Road Industrial Estate,
Newby Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport,
SK7 5DA

0161 477 6600
0161 477 8300
enquiries@thevatpeople.co.uk

Latest News

What Is Postponed VAT Accounting?

Postponed VAT accounting is a mechanism that allows import VAT to be declared and recovered through a business’s VAT return, rather than being paid at the time goods are imported into the UK. This means that instead of paying import VAT upfront and later reclaiming it, the VAT is both declared as output tax and, subject to the usual rules, recovered as input tax on the same return.

Should I Charge VAT on Services?

The experts at The VAT People will explore when a business should charge VAT on services, the various rates that apply, and when a business will not need to charge VAT

VAT Treatment of Cosmetic Services Supplied by Healthcare Professionals

Services supplied by doctors, nurses and other registered health professionals are exempt from VAT when the primary purpose of the service is the protection, maintenance or restoration of the health of the “patient”. This has led to issues with the VAT classification of certain “cosmetic” services provided by healthcare professionals.

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Advice Hub

Our expert VAT consultants are always looking for ways to improve the training and advice they give. This advice hub is packed with the latest articles and news about VAT, hints and tips for accountants and businesses, blogs, infographics and all kinds of other useful content about VAT.

For more information about anything here, or to talk to our expert team, call our free helpline on 0161 477 6600 or use our contact form and we will get back to you.

Are Medical Supplies VAT Exempt?

In the UK, the VAT treatment of medical supplies varies based on the specific type of product and its intended use. This blog post delves into the details of VAT exemptions, zero ratings, and standard VAT rates applicable to different medical supplies, and provides clear guidelines for businesses and consumers.
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VAT and Energy Saving Materials

Until 31 March 2027, the supply and installation of certain “energy saving materials” qualifies for 0% VAT when installed in residential accommodation. This VAT relief applies only to specific products when supplied and installed together.
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£247,407 VAT Appeal Allowed Following Assessment

The business operates two websites - financial-advisors-near-me.co.uk and pension-advisers-near-me.co.uk - that collect user data from individuals seeking financial advice. This data is passed on to the company’s independent financial advisor (IFA) clients. Where a deal is concluded between the IFA and the prospective client, the company receives a percentage of the income generated from that introduction.
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Some Brief Tips if Considering VAT Registration

It is currently challenging to secure VAT registration due to a combination of EU businesses needing UK VAT numbers and backlogs within HMRC’s registration unit. To avoid unnecessary delays, it is important to ensure your application meets HMRC’s requirements in full.
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The Scope of VAT Exemptions for Education

The scope for exemption to apply to education is dependent on a number of factors and these are quite commonly misunderstood. This can lead to errors in VAT accounting due to an organisation either mistakenly believing that its supplies qualify for exemption or more rarely, being unaware that they do.
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Does Your Business Exercise Sufficient Diligence With its VAT Affairs?

Having little or no evidence of due diligence being carried out can be sufficient for HMRC to accuse a business of being either knowingly or unknowingly involved in VAT fraud. This can have serious implications if the business is unwittingly being used to “whitewash” a VAT fraud being carried out by associated third parties.
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Customs – Determining Commodity Codes

When a business imports or exports goods, a ‘commodity code’ (also known as HS code or Tariff code), which is a means of classifying goods for import/export purposes, is required to be included on the customs paperwork.
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What is output and input VAT?

The VAT People can help businesses with all aspects of VAT, including output tax and input tax-related issues. Here, we take a closer look at these concepts, explain the differences between them and discuss what they mean for your business.
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We have ex-HMRC staff who can advise on any commercial VAT Enquiry. Call 0161 477 6600 or visit our contact page.

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