It’s a while since we last commented on VAT on pensions but we return with some good news which HMRC have quietly slipped out in updated content to the VAT Manual. Back in 2014, following the PPG case, HMRC proposed withdrawing their practice of allowing employers to recover VAT on charges on administration costs for … Continue Reading
Keen readers will recall the long-running saga of the correct treatment of VAT incurred by employers on pension fund costs. Following rulings by the ECJ, HMRC had determined that it needed to change existing UK practice. In particular, this affected defined benefit schemes where HMRC had allowed employers to recover some, but not all, of … Continue Reading
You may remember that HMRC said they would issue further guidance on the VAT treatment of DB pension fund administration costs over the summer. Well, by my reckoning we are well and truly into autumn but HMRC have today published a new Brief. Has it resolved matters? In short (and, sadly) No. First, we have official … Continue Reading
HMRC has now issued further guidance on the implications of the CJEU rulings in ATP and PPG, two cases that dealt with the VAT treatment of costs incurred by pension funds. Clarification of HMRC’s approach has been eagerly awaited, following consultation with a range of industry bodies. So where do things stand now? Defined contribution … Continue Reading
Back in February, HMRC issued Brief 06/14 outlining their response to the European Court decision in the PPG case. This promised a change in the long accepted practice of allowing employers to recover a proportion of VAT incurred on the administration of defined benefit pension schemes – the so-called 70/30 rule. HMRC planned to scrap … Continue Reading
Following the European Court’s judgment in ATP it would be reasonable to think that we had reached the end of the road on the VAT treatment of management services provided to pension funds. To date there has been a mixed bag of results with the Court holding in Wheels that the supply of management services … Continue Reading