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HM Treasury - 05 Nov 2009 11:01

15% VAT rate extended for New Year’s Eve traders

Pubs, clubs, restaurants and other retail businesses remaining open past midnight on New Year’s Eve will be allowed to continue charging VAT at 15% on their sales until they close or until 6am on 1 January 2010, whichever is the earlier, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury confirmed yesterday.

Similar arrangements will apply to telecommunications companies in respect of calls and texts made up to 6am on 1 January.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, the Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, said:

“New Year’s Eve celebrations are a vital source of income for many in the service sector. The Government recognises that it would be very difficult for them to make the necessary changes to account for VAT at 17.5% immediately after midnight. To make the transition as easy as possible retail and telecommunication businesses will be able to charge VAT at the old rate into the early hours of New Years Day.

“I announced in May 2009 that HMRC would be allowing a ‘period of grace’ to help businesses trading across midnight on 31 December in implementing the VAT rate change, and that they would work with business on the details. I am very pleased that HMRC is now able to confirm these arrangements and I hope that those businesses affected will find them helpful.”

The ‘period of grace’ is restricted to those businesses that account for VAT at the point of sale such as businesses on a retail scheme – pubs, shops, restaurants etc and to the cost of calls or texts made and billed in the early hours of January 1. It will not apply to businesses that account for VAT on the basis of VAT invoices issued or to mail order or on-line retail sales.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will publish a Revenue & Customs Brief on the HMRC website (www.hmrc.gov.uk) shortly, explaining the extent of the concession in more detail.

NAT 76.09

Notes to editors

1. The Chancellor confirmed in the 2009 Budget that the temporary 15% VAT rate will end at midnight on 31 December 2009, and revert back to 17.5%.

2. Revenue & Customs Briefs are published on the HMRC website, and can be found at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/briefs/index.htm. These include announcements advising of policy changes resulting from legislation, litigation or internal policy reviews and notification of some consultation exercises.

3. Further information about dealing with the VAT rate change from 1 January 2010 can be found at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/forms-rates/rates/rate-changes.htm

Contacts

NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the above department
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk

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