VAT / builder invoice question

stue76

Hello,

Hope someone can help with the following question:

I have had building work done to my house and have been given 15 invoices from the builder. The invoices look for all purposes like VAT invoices, the goods / services broken down, , the amount for each in one column and the 20% VAT in another with a pre VAT total and a post VAT total and the company name and address. However none of these invoices have the builder / companies VAT number anywhere on them.
I've had different opinions, some saying that if they are charging VAT and are VAT registered then the VAT number must be on the invoices and others saying that as I am a private customer they don't have to put the VAT number on the invoice. An accountant friend is somewhat suspicious of the builder. Bt contrast, other builders / painters who have provided me invoices with VAT on them all have their VAT number on the paperwork.
Have I been done over based on the above?

Cheers

notanewuser

stue76 wrote: »

Hello,

Hope someone can help with the following question:

I have had building work done to my house and have been given 15 invoices from the builder. The invoices look for all purposes like VAT invoices, the goods / services broken down, , the amount for each in one column and the 20% VAT in another with a pre VAT total and a post VAT total and the company name and address. However none of these invoices have the builder / companies VAT number anywhere on them.
I've had different opinions, some saying that if they are charging VAT and are VAT registered then the VAT number must be on the invoices and others saying that as I am a private customer they don't have to put the VAT number on the invoice. An accountant friend is somewhat suspicious of the builder. Bt contrast, other builders / painters who have provided me invoices with VAT on them all have their VAT number on the paperwork.
Have I been done over based on the above?

Cheers

If they are charging VAT they MUST be VAT registered and they MUST put their VAT registration number on EVERY invoice. They are breaking the law if they charge VAT without being registered or don't tell you what their registration number is.

phill99

As a tradesman that has been vat registered, I can assure you that if he is charging VAT he must declare the number on invoices.

Ask for his number and check it with HMRC. They will tell you who the number is registered to.

The fact that you are a 'private' (whatever that means) has nothing to do with it.

stue76

Thank you for the replies. By private I should have put 'homeowner'.

phill99

stue76 wrote: »

Thank you for the replies. By private I should have put 'homeowner'.

That means nothing. If b & q or wickets did work in you home such as a kitchen, they would still declare their VAT number on their receipts.

googler

The VAT number must be stated on their invoice, and they must be registered to charge VAT, as said above.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/managing/charging/vat-invoices.htm

stue76

That's all I needed to know. Cheers for that. The fact that they haven't makes me think there's something amiss.

Biggles

Is he a small builder just listing goods he's paid for, and had to pay VAT on?

Or is he listing VAT on the services he's provided to you?

If unregistered, he's still entitled to recover from you the VAT he's paid to his supplier (he doesn't have to declare how much it was, but sometimes they give you a copy of the invoice they've paid).

But if he's charging you VAT on his services, he has to be registered and quote his number.

stue76

It seems to be a mixture. The builder project managed the job so we would say what we wanted, ie chrome towel rail, the builder would invoice with the amount plus 20% vat. Would we then pay that amount. Then another invoice might say to cover the cost of the kitchen 2nd fix labour, again with the 20% added on. Again we paid the invoices.
Hope this helps

southcoastrgi

as others have said, if you are vat reg you must have your no on the invoice, also the figure will be shown & the vat listed seperatly, if you aren't vat reg then it should only be a total figure & vat shouldn't be mentioned anywhere on the invoice (or quote/estimate)