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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is ridiculous about Eton v little private school (title edited by MNHQ at request of the OP)

68 replies

Sunshineandoranges · 13/06/2025 20:19

I think it is ridiculous that while some little private schools are closing as they aren’t viable the big posh schools like Eton (edited by MNHQ) will claim back millions on vat paid in the last ten years due to a clause in the legislation. Any school, can claim back vat on capital projects costing over a quarter of a million pounds in the last ten years. Eton (edited by MNHQ) built themselves a swimming pool and dormitories costing millions and are are due to get a £4.8 million rebate. AIBU to think this is very unfair. I don’t have children in private school.

OP posts:
BumpyaDaisyevna · 14/06/2025 08:48

Lots of tiny dancers in Elton’s school…

Needlenardlenoo · 14/06/2025 08:37

Someone should make that as a show for CBBC!

dunroamingfornow · 14/06/2025 08:30

Rinkali · 13/06/2025 20:30

Elton John’s school would have an enormous Drama department, seventeen grand pianos, and a school rocket. Maths would ‘require improvement’.

And the uniform would be spectacular !

nomas · 14/06/2025 08:28

SarfLondonLad · 14/06/2025 08:16

Many OEs in the Labour cabinet????

Edited
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A few! More in the Tories.

nomas · 14/06/2025 08:28

Rinkali · 13/06/2025 20:30

Elton John’s school would have an enormous Drama department, seventeen grand pianos, and a school rocket. Maths would ‘require improvement’.

I read that as Elton John’s school would have an enormous Diana department.

SarfLondonLad · 14/06/2025 08:16

nomas · 13/06/2025 20:29

Eton spent £42.5m on capital projects over the past 4 years.

It wouldn’t surprise me if they were tipped off a few years ago about the planned changes so they could finish all their projects in time and claw back millions in tax.

This law makes no sense given Eton are passing on the full 20% VAT payment to parents.

Many OEs in the Labour cabinet????

ScorchioScorchioScorchio · 14/06/2025 08:14

Brilliant thread.
I love how half the posts are taking it seriously and the other half are persisting with Elton John references 😂 Keep it up all!

Octavia64 · 14/06/2025 08:10

I want Elton John to open a school now, I’d totally teach there

MissBridgetJones · 14/06/2025 08:04

@Rinkali - congratulations you won Mumsnet today!

User14March · 14/06/2025 07:50

Some will have to leave still do to increased costs, I can see little Daniel waving goodbye….

thatsawhopperthatlemon · 13/06/2025 21:50

Sunshineandoranges · 13/06/2025 21:05

I don’t understand why that would be prior to being registered to pay vat and why only on projects over 250 thousand pounds. Stil if thems the rules

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This has been in vat legislation for quite some time and applies to any business which vat registered. They haven't brought it in so private schools can benefit.

LemondrizzleShark · 13/06/2025 21:44

Rinkali · 13/06/2025 20:30

Elton John’s school would have an enormous Drama department, seventeen grand pianos, and a school rocket. Maths would ‘require improvement’.

The grounds would be amazing - millions spent on flowers.

ShesTheAlbatross · 13/06/2025 21:43

Sunshineandoranges · 13/06/2025 21:05

I don’t understand why that would be prior to being registered to pay vat and why only on projects over 250 thousand pounds. Stil if thems the rules

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If a small business becomes VAT registered, they can also back date their claims for VAT repayment to recover VAT paid before they registered (there are some rules and restrictions, it’s not all VAT they’ve paid)

ShesTheAlbatross · 13/06/2025 21:40

nomas · 13/06/2025 20:29

Eton spent £42.5m on capital projects over the past 4 years.

It wouldn’t surprise me if they were tipped off a few years ago about the planned changes so they could finish all their projects in time and claw back millions in tax.

This law makes no sense given Eton are passing on the full 20% VAT payment to parents.

It’s how VAT works. Every company that charges you VAT can claim back the VAT they pay on their purchases.

You could argue that that rule doesn’t make sense. But it’s not some special private school VAT rule

ButteredRadishes · 13/06/2025 21:27

nomas · 13/06/2025 20:29

Eton spent £42.5m on capital projects over the past 4 years.

It wouldn’t surprise me if they were tipped off a few years ago about the planned changes so they could finish all their projects in time and claw back millions in tax.

This law makes no sense given Eton are passing on the full 20% VAT payment to parents.

All companies pass on the VAT to customers. Why wouldn't Eton?

Coffeeishot · 13/06/2025 21:18

PandoraSocks · 13/06/2025 20:47

Are the pupils there for a long, long time?

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😀

Icanbuymyselfflowers86 · 13/06/2025 21:18

OliviaBonas · 13/06/2025 20:24

Me too!

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Me tooo 🤣

Zebedee999 · 13/06/2025 21:16

Sunshineandoranges · 13/06/2025 20:19

I think it is ridiculous that while some little private schools are closing as they aren’t viable the big posh schools like Eton (edited by MNHQ) will claim back millions on vat paid in the last ten years due to a clause in the legislation. Any school, can claim back vat on capital projects costing over a quarter of a million pounds in the last ten years. Eton (edited by MNHQ) built themselves a swimming pool and dormitories costing millions and are are due to get a £4.8 million rebate. AIBU to think this is very unfair. I don’t have children in private school.

Eh? Labour put VAT on school fees so the schools can now claim VAT paid back. How did you think this stupid spiteful Labour policy would work?

MonGrainDeSel · 13/06/2025 21:13

WhereHasMyPlanetGone · 13/06/2025 20:31

Any schools with any sense would have known that Labour were likely to remove charitable status of independent schools, they’ve never made any secret of this being a priority of theirs.

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What are you talking about? The VAT thing has literally nothing to do with charitable status (which hasn't been removed).

Hollowvoice · 13/06/2025 21:10

PandoraSocks · 13/06/2025 20:47

Are the pupils there for a long, long time?

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Nah, they're out of there like a rocket, man

PurBal · 13/06/2025 21:05

The rich schools get richer, yes

Original poster
Sunshineandoranges · 13/06/2025 21:05

Azaleahead · 13/06/2025 20:26

It’s not “a clause in the legislation”, it’s literally the foundation of how VAT works - you pay output VAT, you recover input VAT.

I don’t understand why that would be prior to being registered to pay vat and why only on projects over 250 thousand pounds. Stil if thems the rules

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunshineandoranges · 13/06/2025 21:02

MillicentFaucet · 13/06/2025 20:31

Honestly OP ask MN to change the title of your thread or you'll just end up with loads of "I thought this was about Elton John" posts.

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How do do that?

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunshineandoranges · 13/06/2025 21:02

Argh I should have checked the spelling. I’m obviously a fool!

OP posts:
PandoraSocks · 13/06/2025 20:47

x2boys · 13/06/2025 20:41

There is an Elton primary and Elton high school in Bury.

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Are the pupils there for a long, long time?