Indirect Taxation

Task 1

1.1 Identification of sources of information on VAT

VAT is an indirect tax which is applied on all the products and services that are bought or sold within a country. It is a consumption taxation which was introduced in year 1973 and the third largest source of legal bodies to acquire revenues. It is considered as indirect because it is not paid directly to the government by the consumers. VAT is charged by sellers from customers by adding value of it in the total selling price of a product or service. In UK predetermined percentage of this tax is 20% which was increased in year 2011 from 17.5%. It may be charged on items such as commission, canteen meals sold to staff, gifts, selling assets of a business (Abbott and et.al., 2016). The amount of VAT Payable by a taxable person is calculated by subtracting inputs used for production of goods and services from cost of products incurred on their production. Taxable persons include any legal entity(s) operating as a VAT registered business. However, VAT is not applicable for all cities, some places are exempted from this tax.

Sources of information on VAT can be identified by using the information that is promptly available from federal government sites and portals. Another source of information is available from HM revenue and customs (HMRC) portals that is responsible for tax collection across UK. All the relevant information regarding tax or any other issue for paying tax is considered by the HMRC and it provide solutions to the tax payers.

1.2 Interaction between organisation and relevant government agency

HMRC or HM Revenue and customs is a government department responsible for collection and payment of taxes in the country from and to the registered VAT businesses respectively. From registration procedures to the time a taxable person exits or ceases to be recognised as a VAT registered business, HMRC provisions for easier access and administration of VAT accounts created for organisations and individuals through Making Tax Digital (MTD) program. This program helps easier tax administration making the process of registering, submitting and applying for any kind of returns or grievance (Agell, Englund and Södersten, 2016).

1.3 VAT Registration requirements

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) provides a detailed procedure that is required to be followed by a taxable person. An organization needs to register for VAT if the VAT taxable turnover exceeds £85,000. VAT Taxable turnover refers to the sum of everything an organisation sells that is not exempted from VAT or total value of all taxable supplies except exempt supplies.

Businesses need to register with HMRC for VAT returns Once the organisation registers with HMRC as a registered business, a VAT number is issued. Registration can be completed either by filling a form online or offline through an agent which is usually a rare situation. For offline registration the organisations may appoint an agent to do it on their behalf. Different forms are needed to be filled for different types of businesses (Bahl, 2018). For instance, forms such as VAT1A needs to be filled by distance sellers at the time of registration, VAT1B I is for importers and VAT1C is required to be filled and submitted if a VAT registered business needs to dispose off their assets.

1.4 Information need to be disclosed as business documentation of VAT registered businesses

HM Revenue and Customs demands its taxable persons to comply with the proper business documentation of their operations at the time of registration. Following information needs to be disclosed as business documentation of VAT registered business:

• National Insurance (NI) number
• Tax identifier i.e. Unique Taxpayer’s reference (UTR) number
• Certificate of incorporation/incorporation details
• Business bank accounts details
• Information on all associated businesses within the last two years

All the documentation relating to filing of VAT return needs to be done online unless the business is subject to an insolvency procedure, objections to usage of computer systems on religious grounds or conformed to any disability. Generally two types of records are maintained by businesses as per HMRC regulations- VAT account and VAT invoices. The VAT account includes a record of day-to-day operations of a business whereas VAT invoices mainly relate to suppliers and their operations (Brondolo, Silvani and Le Borgne, 2014).

1.5 Requirements and frequency of reporting for various VAT schemes

For better compliance and disclosure of returns for VAT, HMRC has launched various kinds of VAT schemes. These schemes have been described below:

• Flat-rate VAT accounting scheme: In this method the tax is calculating is multiplying flat rate by inclusive turnover of VAT. For example, if turnover of a company is 20000 and the flat rate is 15% then an amount of 3000 will be paid VAT. In this method VAT is paid on a fixed rate.
• VAT Cash Accounting scheme: Cash accounting system is followed in this scheme in which date when payments are made is considered. In this method VAT is paid at the time of scale and collected when payment is made to the supplier.
• Annual Accounting Scheme: As the name suggests, the annual accounting scheme enables a registered business to pay tax on its VAT account either in nine monthly or three quarterly payments. A business can, however, pay its returns if its estimated taxable turnover does not exceed  £1.35m with a minimum turnover of £1.6m per year. This scheme can be combined with flat rate VAT and VAT cash accounting scheme under special circumstances.
• Retail and VAT margin schemes: These schemes are applicable on different registered businesses based on their retail turnovers ranging below £1m, between £1m and £130m or above. Small sized businesses falling under the purview of cash accounting and annual accounting schemes have the benefit of availing retail schemes only (Buenker, 2018).

1.6 Maintenance of up-to-date knowledge of changes to codes of practice, regulation or legislation

It is very important for all the business entities to follow codes of practice, regulation or legislation. It is also essential to be aware about the changes that may take place in these elements.

All of them are as follows:

• Enterprises should have appropriate knowledge of the may in which statistics can be made.
• Keep the important data safe by using good software.
• Reduce works on paper and follow the concept of paperless work so that work load of employees can be decreased.

It is very important for all the businesses it is very important to be aware of such changes so that business can be operated in appropriate manner. It helps to maintain relevant data that belongs to taxes in more effective way. It also reduces the chances of mistakes and conflicts among employees and managers as top authority is aware of the modifications in legislations (Fuentes and Lillo-Bañuls, 2015).

Task 2

2.1 Extract relevant data for a specific period from the accounting system

Data extracted for the calculation of standard supplies, zero-rated supplies and exempt supplies:

Keen will commence trading in the near future. He operates a mid-sized boat, and is considering three alternative types of business. These are:

• grooming, in which case all sales will be standard rated for VAT calculations
• conveyance, in which case all sales will be zero-rated for VAT, and
• an marine paramedic service, in which case all sales will be exempt from VAT.

For each alternative Keen forecasts sales worth £70,000 per month (exclusive of VAT), and standard rated expenses will be £10,000 per month (inclusive of VAT) (Imam and Jacobs, 2014).

Data extracted for the calculation of input and output VAT on exports and imports:

Moon Ltd is registered for VAT in the UK. The company has the choice of purchasing goods costing £1,500 (exclusive of VAT) from either a UK supplier or from a supplier situated outside the European Union. Ascertain how the input and output VAT shall be calculated on such imports.

2.2 Calculations of Input and Output VAT for data extracted

Calculation of of input and output VAT on standard supplies, zero-rated supplies and exempt supplies

Standard rated supplies

Since Keen plans to start a profitable venture for training inclusive of standard rated sales for VAT , she will be required to register for VAT as she is making taxable supplies.  

Standard rated supplies, as the name suggests, are those items prescribed under the law that have a general applicable rate of 20% applicable on them. Output and Input VAT have been calculated below:

Output VAT = 70,000 x 20%= £14,000

£14,000 per month will be due as Output VAT

Input VAT = 10,000 x 20/120= £1,667

£1,667 per month will be recoverable.

Zero-rated supplies

If Keen plans to start a profitable venture for transport inclusive of zero-rated sales for VAT , she will be able to apply for exemption from registration for VAT since such supplies have a nil percent rate applicable on them. However, she should still register as these are taxable supplies. Output and Input VAT have been calculated below:

Output VAT will not be due in this case (Johannesen, N., 2014).

Input VAT of £1,667 per month will be recoverable.

Exempt supplies

Keen will not be required or permitted to register for VAT as she will not be making taxable supplies.

No Output VAT will be due.

No Input VAT will be reclaimable.

Calculation of of input and output VAT on exports and imports

A VAT registered business can import goods from outside the European Union, in such a case VAT has to be paid at the time of importation known as Output VAT. This amount can then can be reclaimed as input VAT on the VAT return for the period during which the goods were imported.

If Moon Ltd. Chooses to purchase goods worth £1,000 from a UK supplier, standard rate of 20% shall be applicable. This has been calculated as follows:

Output VAT= £1,500 x 20% = £300  

Input VAT =  £300 (reclaimable)

If the goods are instead purchased from a supplier situated outside the European Union:

Output VAT (paid to HMRC)= £1,500 x 20% = £300

Payment made to supplier= £1,500 to the supplier

Input VAT (reclaimable)= £300.

In each case Moon Ltd has paid £1,800 and reclaimed £300.On the other hand, the business can postpone the payment of VAT on importation by setting up an account with HM Revenue & Customs for the same. For this, it is necessary to provide a bank guarantee with monthly reporting of VAT. When a UK VAT registered business exports goods outside of the European Union then the supply is zero-rated (Johnson and Koyama, 2014).

2.3 Calculate the VAT due to, or from, the relevant tax authority

Standard Supplies:

For standard supplies, VAT is calculated at the general rate of 20%. Keen will be liable to pay £14,000 as her Output VAT return for quarterly basis to HMRC and entitled to receive reclaim on Input VAT return of £1,667.

Zero-Rated Supplies:

 As Zero-Rated supplies have zero percent of VAT rate applicable on them, Keen will not be liable to pay any tax to HMRC as his VAT return for the year. However, she will entitled to receive reclaim on Input VAT return of £1,667.

Exempt Supplies:

Exempt supplies are not permitted to be included for VAT returns. These may include supplies such as medic services, in such case, Keen will not be liable to pay nor permitted to pay any tax to HMRC as his VAT return for the year.

2.4 Submission of a completed VAT return and any associated payment within the statutory time limits

HMRC requires registered businesses to file VAT return based on statutory time limits. This is usually done quarterly. VAT is illustrated below:

In this illustration, one can observe that returns have been filed on a monthly basis for the  month of January, 2014. The table below time period shows the form with box 1 to box 9 that need to be filled according to the rules followed by business under the Act. On the right side, three options have been provided that ask a user to choose between online submission to government gateway, HMRC by other means and save for later submission. The user follows a standard-rated scheme as mentioned on the top right option shown as 'VAT Scheme' (Lam and Ravussin, 2017).

Task 3

3.1 Implications and penalties for an organisation resulting from failure to abide by VAT regulations

If an organisation fails to abide by VAT regulations then then a particular penalty is required to be made and it also leave negative impact on the company. Both of them are as follows:

Late filing: In UK if a company file late for VAT then there is no penalty on this aspect.

Late payment: When VAT is paid late by an individual or a company then a penalty is charged on a predetermined rate. It is called surcharge liability in which firstly the penalization amount will be 2% of total amount. When criteria of notice is not met by the tax payer then it will be increased up to 5%, 10% or 15% by the government.

Late registration: In UK no penalty or punishment is made when an organisation register late for VAT.

Implications: When an organisation fails to abide VAT then strict action can be taken by the government if it is made in an illegal manner. It will also affect the market image of an organisation if any legal activity is performed against it.

3.2 Adjustments and declarations for any errors or omission identified in previous VAT periods

There are various errors and omission are made by the organisation that are identified in previous year. These are as follows:

• An error related to reporting threshold such as VAT 652.
• A mistake made purposely to misguide VAT correction team.
• A fault which is made in a financial period up to 4 previous years (Parker, 2018.).

Adjustments and declarations:

If the error is more then 10000 pound then it will not be handled VAT correction team but transferred to HMRC. Deliberate mistakes are also required to be reported to the authority which is responsible for the collection of tax. When the error is resulted due to additional payments to the tax authorities then total extra amount will be adjusted in the net year.

Task 4

4.1 Providing information of impact of VAT payment may have on an organisation

VAT is a composition tax which is imposed on the goods and services that are purchased or sold in boundary of a country. It is very important for the companies to pay VAT every year. There are various impacts of VAT payment on cash flow and financial forecasts of an organisation. All of them are as follows:

• When proper process is not followed for VAT than a sudden payment can take place in the form of penalty which will affect the cash flow (Riedel, 2018).
• The organisations which are providing products to the clients on credit or buying on credit and late payments are received by the company then it may result in late payments of VAT which will create more penalties for the enterprise. It will also affect cash flow of the entity.
• Unplanned enhancement in the percentage of VAT may also affect financial forecasts of the company as it will affect the strategies that are made by managers in previous year.
• It is essential to pay VAT regularly some times it create problems for organisation that may lead to insufficient funds such as working capital requirements.

4.2 Advise to relevant people about changes in VAT legislation which would have an effect of an organisation

Government and legal authorities make changes in their regulations according to the economic situation of the country. These modifications may affect on reporting system of the organisations because they have to make alteration in their reports due to such changes. It is very important for them to gather information of them so that reports can be modified accordingly (Penu, 2016).

Such type of changes will also leave impact on the accounting system of the business entity which has been followed in prior years. Sometimes the rate is changed at the end of a financial year and all the records are maintained on previous rate in this conditions major changes are made by the company. It is done to meet the legal requirements and follow all the legislations of the government.

Conclusion

From the above report, indirect taxation, specifically VAT, can be clearly understood and one can develop an understanding on how it is implemented in the country, what are the requirements a taxable person or organisation needs to adhere to for the purpose of being recognised as a VAT registered business, various schemes currently implemented and what input and output VAT is. Apart from this, it can be seen that a slight a change in VAT rates can have a drastic impact on the organizational structures of a business and can hamper its forecasting plans, cash flow management as well as accounting systems greatly. Thus, it is important for managers to have an updated knowledge about such legislation modifications beforehand to plan accordingly.

References

• Abbott, K. W. and et.al., 2016. Two logics of indirect governance: Delegation and orchestration. British Journal of Political Science. 46(4). pp.719-729.
• Agell, J., Englund, P. and Södersten, J., 2016. Incentives and redistribution in the welfare state: The Swedish tax reform. Springer.
• Bahl, R., 2018. The Guatemalan tax reform. Routledge.
• Brondolo, J., Silvani, C. and Le Borgne, E., 2014. Tax administration reform and fi scal adjustment: the case of Indonesia (2001–7). In Macroeconomic Policies in Indonesia(pp. 156-221). Routledge.
• Buenker, J. D., 2018. The Income Tax and the Progressive Era. Routledge.
• Fuentes, R. and Lillo-Bañuls, A., 2015. Smoothed bootstrap Malmquist index based on DEA model to compute productivity of tax offices. Expert systems with applications. 42(5). pp.2442-2450.
• Imam, P. A. and Jacobs, D., 2014. Effect of corruption on tax revenues in the Middle East. Review of Middle East Economics and Finance Rev. Middle East Econ. Fin.. 10(1). pp.1-24.
• Johannesen, N., 2014. Tax evasion and Swiss bank deposits. Journal of Public Economics. 111. pp.46-62.
• Johnson, N. D. and Koyama, M., 2014. Tax farming and the origins of state capacity in England and France. Explorations in Economic History. 51. pp.1-20.
• Lam, Y. Y. and Ravussin, E., 2017. Indirect calorimetry: an indispensable tool to understand and predict obesity. European journal of clinical nutrition. 71(3). p.318.
• Parker, H., 2018. Instead of the Dole: An enquiry into integration of the tax and benefit systems. Routledge.

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