UK and International Tax news

HMRC Issues Guidance On VAT For Businesses If There Is No Brexit Deal

Friday 14th September 2018

HMRC has issued guidance on the implications for VAT rules, where goods and services are traded between the UK and EU member states, if the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019 with no agreement.

HMRC stresses that this is contingency planning for a scenario that the UK government does not expect to happen although HMRC advises that there will be no change to the VAT rules for most UK businesses.

HMRC have indicated that there may be the possible reintroduction of postponed accounting for VAT for imports of goods so that import VAT will only need to be accounted for when preparing VAT returns rather than on actual import.

HMRC anticipates that the distance selling regime will be replaced by an extension of the MOSS system throughout the EU. Brexit may bring an earlier end to these regimes for UK businesses selling into the EU, as they will no longer be eligible to use the distance selling arrangements and HMRC will no longer be able to operate the MOSS system.

UK businesses will have to treat the sale of goods to other EU countries as zero-rated exports, in the same way as to any other country worldwide.

Supplies of electronic services to consumers in other EU countries will require registration for the non-union MOSS scheme in one of the remaining countries, or will otherwise require VAT registration in each and every country where a domestic customer is located.

EU suppliers currently using the distance selling regime for sales into the UK will have to account for UK VAT, instead of the overseas VAT that is currently charged and this may increase prices in some circumstances.

For parcels valued up to and including £135, a technology-based solution will allow VAT to be collected from the overseas business selling the goods into the UK. Overseas businesses will charge VAT at the point of purchase and will be expected to register with an HMRC digital service and account for VAT due. On goods worth more than £135 sent as parcels, VAT will continue to be collected from UK recipients in line with current procedures for parcels from non-EU countries.

UK business will no longer have access to the EU VAT refund system, but will be able to claim refunds of VAT from EU member states by using the existing processes for non-EU businesses. This process varies across the EU and businesses will need to make themselves aware of the processes in the individual countries where they incur costs and want to claim a refund.

If you would like further details on HMRC’s guidance, please contact Keith Rushen on 0207 486 2378.

 

Contact Us