VAT Reclaim
One of the most pleasant tasks of building your own home is making a VAT repayment claim at the end of the build! You can make a claim if the new house is an ordinary private domestic residence and you will need detailed proof of VAT paid on all the goods for which a claim is to be made.
The claim must be made within three months of the building being completed and you only get one chance to claim, and so you need to get it right first time. You can make a claim for most of the goods and materials bought from a VAT registered supplier which are incorporated into the building or the site.
You cannot claim for furniture, carpets, curtains, white goods, trees and plants, nor for burglar alarms, professional services, equipment hire, transport of materials and tools used. HM Customs & Excise publish a very good guide on this matter - VAT Refunds for do-it-yourself Builders, dated January 1996 and under Notice 719. This clearly explains who is eligible, how to make a claim and what can be claimed.
Whilst we have always found the Customs & Excise extremely helpful, where the project is particularly complicated it is best to employ a VAT Consultant to make the claim for you.
The consultant will be conversant with the rules and regulations, know the procedure as well as the tricks of the trade and make sure that you have not forgotten any items.
The VAT Consultant will also ensure that your claim is made quickly and fully, and that you receive your refund quickly. BuildStore can assist in recommendations.
