VAT free flooring - TW New build

geek1981

Hi guys

I've found lot of people on this forum talking about getting VAT off the price for flooring and other accessories for new build. I'm buying a new build from TW but getting the flooring done with a local tiler.
Can i ask for VAT exclusion as the flooring is to be laid for a new build house? How does that work?

cheers!

molerat

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/sectors/builders/new-houses.htm
It looks like a lot depends on who does it, when it is done and who contracts the tradesman.

martinsurrey

VAT on new builds is often more complicated than building the place!

when does the work need to be done for zero rating?

In general, before the house is "completed", this is taken to mean on of the following, signed off, sold, capable of being lived in, had a completion certificate issued.

what can be zero rated if its done in time?

Carpet can never be zero rated, no matter what, BUT the labour costs of fitting can be if they are separately listed on the invoice.

Hard floor coverings, such as laminate, tiles hard wood flooring can all be zero rated for both materials and labour.

so in your case, if TW allow your tiler to go onsite before they have finished it may be possible to get both tiles and labour zero rated, but TW wont let you do that as it will cause issues for their insurance and their CIS registration (having tradesmen onsite for a developer you have to register them).

littlesparkles

I'm buying from TW and they will not allow access for tradespeople before completion. :-(

However I have found some of their extras to be quite reasonable actually when compared to quotes from others. My carpet quotes all came in at around the same as TW. I am only getting them from elsewhere because I want some of the house done with flooring they cannot provide.

ioscorpio

Most developers will allow carpets to be fitted just prior to legal completion as long as they have exchanged contracts and the client signs a disclaimer in case the contractor does any damage.

geek1981

Just asked TW if their quoted price for flooring are zero-VATed and they can't provide cost breakdown. cheeky!

ioscorpio

That will be because there carpet price list will be cost to TW not cost to customer. The salesperson probably does not know if that price includes VAT or not.

whalster

I once classed laminate floor as a reclaim and they said no as it is not permanent ,I built some with solid polished Ash floors and could reclaim it on those ! Also if you are ever a self build you will not be able to claim your cooker / hood/ hob or white goods ,once again I was caught out with that a good lot of years ago , since then I have had the company supplying to zero the appliances so they are in effect free ,although the units work top price goes up to compensate

jack_turner

Hi

Im planning to build a house from scratch just wondered whether the builder shouldn't charge Vat on materials/services or should i claim it all back after the house is built?

please help.

jack