new build home - query on VAT reclaim from HMRC

[evelynj]

Hi all

My parents have just built a retirement bungalow, (my bro more or less project managed the build - he's practical but not so much into paperwork).

I've gathered all the invoices and entered them into a spreadsheet, (with headings matching HMRC form). Looking at the reclaim form I don't know whether I can just attach a spreadsheet or they want it all hand written on the actual form. The helpline is always 'very busy and can't take my call'

Is it worth paying someone to check over the form & docs when I've completed it or should I just send it off and cross my fingers?

Also I note that the sequence has to follow the list when submitting invoices - should I do them in order of supplier or date?

And advice appreciated!

Just in the process of doing mine now... You can use your own spreadsheet & choose how you order them, as long as it's clearly marked on each invoice. Rather disappointed really, as there are a few bits & bobs, like bathroom sink vanity units that can't be claimed back. I also wonder how picky they will be if the address/name doesn't match where a tradesman ordered stuff on his account...

Oh dear. I don't know about the exclusions either. Anyway I can find out before rather than after our build??

Yes, read the form & associated guidance notes first... Wish I'd been a little more ambitious in our landscaping plan to enable us to claim the vat back on the vast amount of money we seem to be spending on plants...

Thanks for replies. Wow, great you can claim on landscaping-does that include Tarmac do u know?

I've got a few invoices without invoice numbers so plan to use date & surname noted on them all as invoice ref. I also have a load of credit notes to deduct at the end, what fun!

Crossing my fingers that they'll be reasonable if there's any problems!

Oh crikey yes my folks did get vanity units too, what a pita. Thought Id read most of the notes. Will really have to study some eve when children are in bed-want to get it sent off as just 1 month left til our deadline!

how long do you get after completion of the house to fill it all in evelyn?

We are hopefully going to be going down this route quite soon

Ha ha, fedupofallthemud was totally my overriding memory of a self build and living on site...

3 months from completion

sorry, yes 3 months which seem to pass very quickly!

I sent in printouts of my excel spreadsheets with the headings the same as the HMRC forms. Plastic wallets divided up the different headings and the receipts were paper clipped together following the spreadsheet ordering.

B&Q/Wickes receipts were also submitted which obviously have no corresponding name address on them and these were accepted no problem. Obviously had to omit items that were not eligible so some receipts had a different total on them compared to the spreadsheet details.

Using your own spreadsheet was useful as you can copy and paste VAT numbers etc, especially if you used a few suppliers a lot.

They paid out very promptly after the submission, I was pleasantly surprised.

The only issue I had was a rogue builder who was charging me VAT but not actually paying it, he had walked off the job part way through and did not issue me with official company invoices. His quote detailed VAT but it turned out he was not registered; my payments which I assumed were including VAT apparently did not.

Great thanks Charleymouse that's really reassuring.

I'm going to add in (subtract) the invoices under the supplier's section rather than doing them separately. I also have some cash sales to put through and was concerned about no invoice name so that's good.

Also have some where the VAT doesn't seem to add up so off to see building merchants tomorrow to query it. Having sorted out all the statements and advice notice etc I've realised that I'm going to have to go through them all and make sure I've submitted the corresponding invoices and they haven't got lost anywhere! This is just like another real job, will be glad when its done!