Missing VAT on invoice, does it mater?

[gingerjedi]

I did a short stint with Hays and despite the agent reassuring me that he had sent my bank and VAT details to their accounts department they didn't have them when I rang up chasing late payment.

They paid the outstanding (self bill) invoices eventually but one was paid exclusive of VAT and despite more chasing the VAT reclaim still hasn't materialised, can I legally just ignore the VAT on that one invoice or am I obliged to charge VAT as I'm registered?

[TykeMerc]

Fairly certain that you're obliged to charge and pay the VAT. You can't just ignore it if you're VAT registered.

[Clare@InTouch]

Fairly certain that you're obliged to charge and pay the VAT. You can't just ignore it if you're VAT registered.

Agreed. If HMRC investigate they will view the amount you received as gross, and ask you to pay the deemed VAT element.

[SueEllen]

They paid the outstanding (self bill) invoices eventually but one was paid exclusive of VAT and despite more chasing the VAT reclaim still hasn't materialised, can I legally just ignore the VAT on that one invoice or am I obliged to charge VAT as I'm registered?

Send a snotty letter by recorded signed for asking for the VAT. Enclose a statement of their account in the letter. Inform them if it's not paid within 28 days you will inform HMRC that they are refusing to pay VAT on their services.

Then if they don't pay up phone the nice people at HMRC VAT with their VAT no and head office address to hand, and ask them what to do.

Remember your collecting VAT on behalf of HMRC not for yourself.

You don't want to risk a VAT inspection in a few years and be told to pay the VAT up.

[gingerjedi]

Thanks everyone,

I thought that would be the case... bugger.

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

Just to be sure, was the self-billed invoice in question a valid VAT invoice (i.e. did it actually have a VAT amount on it?). If not, and you were registered for VAT at the time, you will need to ask them to re-issue it as a valid VAT invoice too as well as having them cough up the missing VAT.

[downsouth]

Yep, currently going through the same nonsense, just checked business account and see the 'missing' VAT has been credited.

Anyone else think they a bunch of numpties on the payment side? paid weekly great, several errors already, no so great.

they wont even accept an invoice from me, saying self billing is all they need.

[Boo]

they wont even accept an invoice from me, saying self billing is all they need.

If an invoice arrives by fax they probably won't send it back

Boo

[Ignis Fatuus]

Yep, currently going through the same nonsense, just checked business account and see the 'missing' VAT has been credited.

Anyone else think they a bunch of numpties on the payment side? paid weekly great, several errors already, no so great.

they wont even accept an invoice from me, saying self billing is all they need.

BTW contrary to what some of those payroll numpties think (or at least try to pretend), they can only self-bill with your explicit agreement.

[BillHicksRIP]

Yep, currently going through the same nonsense, just checked business account and see the 'missing' VAT has been credited.

Had the same thing. Must I get the invoice redone? It's only one that was incorrect and I'll be paying the correct VAT owed to HMRC.