17 Nov Pre-registration input tax

Source: HM Revenue & Customs | | 13/11/2014

There are special rules that determine the recoverability of VAT incurred before a business registers for VAT. This type of VAT is known as pre-registration input VAT. There are different rules for the supply of goods and supply of services, but VAT can only be reclaimed if the pre-registration expenses relate to the supply of taxable goods or services by the newly VAT registered business.
The time limit is backdated from the date of registration and is:

• 4 years for goods on hand, or that were used to make other goods on hand
• 6 months for services.

The VAT should be reclaimed on the first VAT return. When a new VAT registration is applied for there is an option to backdate the registration (known as the effective date of registration), this option should be carefully considered if there is additional input tax that will be made recoverable. However, there may be additional VAT due on sales within a back-dated period so careful consideration must be taken to ensure optimum recovery of pre-registration expenses.

There are special rules for: partially exempt businesses, for businesses that have non-business income and for the purchase of capital items within the capital goods scheme (CGS). HMRC’s guidance provides some interesting examples, one of which relates to the purchase of a van by an individual for wholly private purposes. Three years later the individual registers for VAT and uses the van exclusively within their business. The VAT incurred on the purchase of the van will never be recoverable because there were no business activities at the time the van was bought.