Bloody VAT people

[AtW]

IMO they do it to check if the firm in question is "contactable" - this is to prevent VAT carosel fraud that they are suffering from. Or perhaps just do some effort that can supposedly prevent it.

[eternalnomad]

Yes, Ive always found them very helpful. Unless your hiding something!!!!!

I've not really been trading long enough (with this Ltd.) to actually have anything to hide.

Its just probably all about "fairness"

[darmstadt]

I've always found the VAT to be really very helpful.

this one especially:

[expat]

this one especially:

Ah yes: named after the Pope's phone number.

[wendigo100]

Whatever you think, I find it helps to be nice to VAT officers from the start.

I always am, on the few occasions I have spoken or corresponded with them. My last VAT inspection was carried out over the phone.

Being awkward just gets you a tick in the box marked "Keep a close eye on this company".

[xoggoth]

Had one full VAT visit and some similar telephone enquiries. Never had any probs either. Difficult to go too far with wrong with VAT, wish tax was as simple.

With government agencies, avoid mentioning anything unless asked, pocket errors in your favour, challenge and complain about anything not in your favour and don't give up. Inventing idiotic interpretations of their own rules sometimes works too.