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Can He Claim the VAT Back?

portlandboy
portlandboy Posts: 297 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
edited 9 December 2011 at 6:57PM in Cutting tax
Hi,

My 18 year old son is still at a sixth form college. He is studying Business, ICT and Travel. All three courses are very much based on coursework and home study, making a computer a necessity. His computer has broken so he is buying a new one through the Sony Education site.

The question is can he claim back the VAT on the new computer either on the basis that it is a "work-tool" or as it is for school, or any other reason for that matter?
Thanks in advance,
Note to Self: When posting, remember to keep within "forum rules" to avoid upsetting other "interested parties"

Comments

  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    In a word 'no' or everybody who is not VAT registered would be doing it.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • portlandboy
    portlandboy Posts: 297 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    McKneff wrote: »
    In a word 'no' or everybody who is not VAT registered would be doing it.

    Fair enough, thanks. Just wondered (or hoped), on the basis that school uniforms for kids are VAT free, that there may be an opportunity to save a bit.
    Note to Self: When posting, remember to keep within "forum rules" to avoid upsetting other "interested parties"
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The difference is though, as you said, the childrens clothes are VAT free, not VAT reclaimable.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • BoGoF
    BoGoF Posts: 7,098 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    portlandboy wrote: »
    Fair enough, thanks. Just wondered (or hoped), on the basis that school uniforms for kids are VAT free, that there may be an opportunity to save a bit.

    He's 18............not a kid !
  • portlandboy
    portlandboy Posts: 297 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    BoGoF wrote: »
    He's 18............not a kid !

    He's in full-time education and we still get child benefit for him, so he's not classed as adult.
    Note to Self: When posting, remember to keep within "forum rules" to avoid upsetting other "interested parties"
  • LittleVoice
    LittleVoice Posts: 8,974 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    portlandboy wrote: »
    He's in full-time education and we still get child benefit for him, so he's not classed as adult.

    I expect you pay VAT for his clothes though.
  • antrobus
    antrobus Posts: 17,386 Forumite
    portlandboy wrote: »
    He's in full-time education and we still get child benefit for him, so he's not classed as adult.

    There's a reason they call that 'Child Benefit Extension' you know, and the receipt of child benefit in respect of an 18 year old does not prevent that person from being treated as an adult for every other purpose.
  • BoGoF
    BoGoF Posts: 7,098 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    portlandboy wrote: »
    He's in full-time education and we still get child benefit for him, so he's not classed as adult.

    !!!!!!!!!

    He can smoke, drink, vote and get married......but he's not classed as an adult.....ok then.
  • portlandboy
    portlandboy Posts: 297 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    LittleVoice wrote: »
    I expect you pay VAT for his clothes though.

    Yes, but he doesn't use them for a business or exclusively for school. If he wore them as a uniform at work he could claim the costs back and a tax reduction for cleaning them.

    My original question didn't rely on his age (except to explain that he was at college) and was not related to clothing. It was a simple question based on the fact that SOME groups of people can claim VAT back, it's not just something businesses can do. I can claim it back on certain items related to my disability and since I was not sure, I asked. The things that can be claimed often amaze me so it isn't beyond the realms of reality that he might have been able to do so. The first answer was perfectly acceptable, thanks.
    Note to Self: When posting, remember to keep within "forum rules" to avoid upsetting other "interested parties"
  • adi2402
    adi2402 Posts: 18 Forumite
    Glad your questioned was answered, the thread seemed to turn unnecessarily aggressive there for some reason.
This discussion has been closed.
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