Surviving a VAT inspection

Overview:

Businesses of all shapes and sizes may expect a VAT audit by HMRC at some point, but when? and why?

No matter how sure we are of correct, or even perfect, VAT compliance, a visit by the ‘VAT man/person’ may cause some disruption to day-to-day business, and, perhaps, a degree of wariness. Larger businesses will have their own Client Relationship Managers within HMRC… but even so.

Even though HMRC may not have found a VAT problem on their last visit, this cannot be relied upon as a ‘clean bill of health.’ Numerous VAT cases confirm HMRC’s position on this.

This interactive course is brought to you by a VAT specialist who was once a visiting VAT Officer, but who has also spent much of her career outside HMRC in assisting clients in this.

This course covers:

• Why me? Why now?
  • Various parameters that HMRC may apply (as published)
  • What if the visit is unannounced?
• Establish your own platform for the day.
  • When is convenient for you? How many officers? Timings
  • Records to be made available to HMRC, and in what form.
  • If on site visit, - think about suitable office/ personnel available etc.
  • HMRC’s powers to inspect.
• Best conduct on the day, and ‘reasonable refreshments’
• Likely checks that HMRC will make on the day, depending on the nature of, and size of, the business, incl.
  • Arithmetical, mark ups and ‘life-style reconciliations etc
• Ensuring correct VAT compliance and completing internal VAT checks as a crucial on-going measure- well before the VAT visit.
  • All aspects- input tax, output tax, international supplies, partial exemption, and ‘non - business’ activities-main ‘slip up’ points
• Correct VAT return completion and what to do about ‘errors’
• Findings from the visit
  • If a problem- is HMRC correct?
• Dispute resolution procedure.
• Penalties for errors- mitigation available?
• Appeals to the VAT Tribunal
  • Appealable matters
  • Costs

Gwen Ryder

Gwen has been a VAT and customs duty specialist and lecturer for her entire career. She worked in HM Customs (now HM Revenue and Customs) for 9 years before joining the VAT and Customs team at Ernst & Young for over 6 years. She subsequently became the VAT and Customs Partner in a top 20 firm, and then formed her own consultancy practice. From 2006 to 2019, much of Gwen’s time was taken up as acting head of VAT, and then head of VAT compliance in a top 10 firm of accountants.

Gwen is an Associate of, and former examiner for, the Institute of Indirect Tax, and is a member of the VAT Practitioners Group.

Gwen presents a wide range of courses on most matters of VAT and customs duty as it applies in the UK and internationally.

A Freeman of the City of London, and a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company Of Tax Advisers

3 CPD units

ACCA members can use this learning to meet their CPD requirements provided it is relevant to their career. If the event contributes to general knowledge and skills, it should be recorded as non-verifiable CPD. If the learning can be applied in the workplace, it will contribute to verifiable CPD.

1 hour of learning = 1 unit of CPD.

Fee: 70 GBP + VAT (84 GBP) per delegate

Please note: If you are unable to join the live webinars, they will be available on-demand 24 hours after the live webinar ends and you will have access to the sessions for 12 months.

The webinar handout material will be available on the webinar platform when you log in to view, 15 minutes before the live webinar start.

If you wish to view or download handout materials, before the day of the webinar, they will also be available through your document library on https://events.accaglobal.com.

This event is organised by ACCA Continuous Learning.

If you have any queries regarding this event please contact us on:

The webinar handout material will be available on the webinar platform when you log in to view the session.

If you wish to view or download handout materials, before starting the webinar, they will also be available through your document library on https://events.accaglobal.com