Let’s talk about the difference between the VAT on reimbursement vs disbursement. All reimbursements are subject to VAT. While disbursements are outside the scope of VAT,
If a business is trading very close to the VAT registration threshold, the threshold is not the correct classification of expenses. It means that the VAT registration threshold was breached sooner than anticipated.
HMRC defines ’ disbursements’ as payments made to suppliers on behalf of your customers.
For disbursements, all the following must apply:
- You paid the supplier on your client’s behalf and acted as their agent.
- Your client received, used, or had the benefit of the goods or services you paid for on their behalf.
- It’s your client’s responsibility to pay for the goods or services, not yours.
- You’ve got permission from your client to pay.
- Your client knows the goods or services from another supplier who’s not there.
- You show the costs on your invoice.
- Pass on the exact amount of each cost to your client when you invoice them.
- The goods and services you paid for are beyond the cost of your services.
An example of disbursement would be a solicitor paying the stamp duty land tax (SDLT) on behalf of his client. This is a client’s expense, as SDLT is the buyer’s responsibility, not the solicitor’s. This is a disbursement.
Example :
VAT on reimbursement is the cost of travel, stationery, or other ‘out-of-pocket expenses’. These are added by consultants on top of the ‘hourly consultancy fee charge’. From HMRC’s point of view, those extra costs are VAT on reimbursement. VAT on reimbursement should be added to them as they represent costs. The business incurs itself. It’s simply not disbursement.
The key consideration is whether the expense belongs to the supplier’s customer. Rather than the supplier
Court Cases
Brabners LLP v The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs [2017] UKFTT 666 (TC). The First-tier Tribunal considered whether electronic property looks for fees. Which should be treated as part of the client bills (and thus subject to VAT). Represented disbursements (outside the scope of VAT).
Solicitors use the information as ‘part and parcel’. Never treat search fees as disbursements.
Solicitors never act as middlemen to collect the search fee from the client. They use results as part of their advice to clients. HMRC has confirmed VAT is chargeable. Search by company or the solicitor if they passed it on ‘without analysis or comment’
If the firm provides advice or makes a report based on the search. HMRC’s view is that the fee will form part of the charges for its services.
A distinction should be created between this case and Barratt, Goff, and Tomlinson. (A firm) v HMRC (Law Society Intervening [2011] UKFTT 71 (TC). A case which refers to the Brabners judgment above. In Barratt, the obtaining of medical records was a disbursement. The solicitor could only get the documents with the client’s consent. The client considers the ‘owner’ of the information within the document. The solicitor was ‘ an intermediary used to help payment’.
In the case of Ellon Car Clinic Ltd [2017] (TC5813). The First-tier Tribunal was considered. A garage that had subcontracted MOT tests to an MOT-approved center had acted as an agent for the car owners. Whether the output tax was due on the full fee charged by the garage to their clients.
Facts of the Case
The company was not licensed to carry out MOT tests on customers’ vehicles. So, subcontracted these tests to other garages, paying between £40 and £54.95 per test. It charged its customers a standard fee of £49.95 (no VAT), which HMRC assessed as being subject to 20% VAT. The company did not itemize the test fees as a separate entry on its sales invoices.
HMRC assessed output tax on the full fee, on the basis. That the invoices did not meet the conditions of a disbursement.
The judge found that every customer knew that the company could not supply an MOT test. Even if the terms of the invoice did not show the involvement of the second garage. The service contract was clear. The delivery was between the research garage and the company.
This was a partial victory for the company. As it finds the only taxable element of the supply of the MOT tests. Which was the element that exceeded the amount paid? No output tax was due on deals where the company made a loss.
Please note that HMRC has now updated its guidance for garages to understand. (How to avoid the trap of treating as principals.)
Making Tax Digital (MTD) and Disbursements
No changes have been made to the VAT rules other than those that relate to record-keeping and filing. The information submitted to HMRC contains the same nine boxes as before. The current filing and payment deadlines for VAT are the same as before.
Courtesy: ACCA