Sunday Times article about listed buildings

I've thus far resisted the temptation to turn this blog into a Mr Angry column, but I've got to record an element of displeasure about an article about listed buildings that appeared in the Sunday Times a couple of weeks ago.  It contained an incorrect statement about VAT, attributed to me.

A few days before it appeared, I had a call from one Rosie Millard who is apparently a journalist and media person.  She wanted to know about VAT and listed buildings, and I duly obliged with answering her questions.  The scenario she asked me about was refurbishing a derelict building that had been empty for a number of years.  I told her that this would be zero rated for 'alterations' and 5% VAT for repairs.  She was in a bit of a rush and I wasn't confident that she had understood what I was saying, so I asked her to let me see what she was going to write.  She refused.

Yes, you guessed, she got it wrong and blithely told the world that repairs to listed buildings are liable at 5% VAT.  And since then I have had a large number of calls from listed building owners asking me if I really meant what I allegedly said.  Needless to say, I have pointed out who the real culprit was.

I did email Ms Millard to point out her error, but she has not replied.

Rant over.  [Until the next time someone annoys me...]

VAT return payments post 1 April 2010

For most businesses, VAT returns have to be completed and submitted together with electronic payment after 1 April 2010. Existing VAT registered businesses with turnover less than £100k can continue to submit paper returns, and can still pay by cheque. However, HMRC are going to make this a touch more difficult, as they now insist that payment must be received and cleared to their bank by the due date for the return. This can take up to a week, or longer, depending on the quality of the postal service.

Penalties WILL be imposed for payments that are cleared late. No longer can you simply post the return the day before and get a Certificate of Posting. Returns will have to be sent at least a week before the due date and although it might not help, I recommend that you still get a Certificate of Posting. [Or even send it recorded delivery, so that you can tell what date it was received by them.]

I find this new measure somewhat petty, if not draconian. Clearly, they want everyone to pay electronically but if you are at the mercy of the Post Office there is going to be little comeback if the letter takes three or four days to reach HMRC. Even then, it could take a couple of days to be processed before hitting the banking system.