Our client is a VAT registered builder and purchased a van for his business on hire purchase (HP) two years ago – because it was anticipated that title would pass in the future once all the payments had been made, it was treated as a supply of goods, and our client reclaimed all of the input tax up front. He is now struggling to meet the monthly repayments and the finance company is in the process of repossessing the vehicle.
A question the client asked is does he have to account for any VAT when the vehicle is repossessed, or are there any adjustments to the input tax that was claimed?
Firstly, it is important to identify the type of credit agreement that is in place. In our client’s circumstances, under an HP agreement, where it is anticipated that title will pass in the future, this is treated as a supply of goods at the outset, thus meaning VAT is charged and recoverable at the start of the agreement.
However, lease agreements where title will not pass, or agreements where there is a large balloon payment at the end that make it highly unlikely that title will pass, are classed as services, and VAT is charged on the monthly payments, not at the outset. It is often worthwhile checking how the supplier/finance company is treating the supply.
As our client has taken possession of the goods, the supply cannot be ‘undone’, even though the payment terms haven’t been fulfilled. Equally, the return of the goods is not a supply by the client to the finance company as it has the right to repossess the goods which your client does not yet legally own. No output tax is due by the client.
Instead, Regulation 38 (VAT Regulations 1995) is applicable as it can be treated as a reduction in the consideration for a supply, as confirmed in the case of General Motors Acceptance Corporation UK Ltd (GMAC) case (LON/01/242), and HMRC’s now archived VAT Information Sheet 05/04. The HP company may issue you with a VAT credit note, or other document having the same effect, for the reduction in consideration, which you will need to use to amend the input tax originally claimed on your VAT return in which the credit notes or other document is issued.
Alternatively, where both parties are VAT registered and agree, no adjustments are required to the either party’s VAT return – any credit note issued should clearly state that ‘this is not a VAT credit note’.
For further advice on this or any other matter email enquries@avantigroup.uk.com