The question was whether a taxpayer can deduct as input tax the VAT which it has incurred in purchasing entitlements to an EU farm subsidy, the Single Farm Payment. The taxpayer had used those entitlements to annual subsidies over several years and intended to use money resulting from the receipt of those subsidies to fund … Continue reading Revenue and Customs v Frank A Smart and Son Ltd: SC 29 Jul 2019
The Directive exempted from a charge to VAT for letting of imoveable property. The taxpayer challenged the requirement to charge to VAT his business of leasing pitches for caravans. Held: The directive allowed member states to derogate from the exemptions. That is what the UK had done. Judges: The Honourable Mr Justice Jacob Citations: [2003] … Continue reading Colaingrove Limited v The Commissioners for Customs and Excise: ChD 16 Apr 2003
This appeal is about an elaborate scheme designed and marketed by KPMG relating to demonstrator cars used by retail distributors for test drives and other internal purposes. In the ordinary course, a car distributor will buy new cars for use as demonstrators, paying VAT on the full amount of the sale price. This will in … Continue reading Revenue and Customs v Pendragon Plc and Others: SC 10 Jun 2015
The court examined arrangements whereby organisations which were not banks, endorsed credit cards to be issued by banks to their members. Held: The granting of credit was exempt from VAT, and also were exempted negotiations of credit and the provision of intermediary services. It was wrong to seek to characterise the arrangement as the mere … Continue reading Commissioners of Customs and Excise v Institute of Directors, BAA Plc v Commissioners of Customs and Excise: CA 11 Dec 2002
The taxpayer licensed static caravans on seasonal pitches on its land. They claimed exemption from charging VAT on the basis that they were residential lettings exempt under European legislation. Held: The appeal failed. The legislation exempted the purchase of static caravans, but explicilty not ‘the supply of accomodation in a caravan or houseboat.’ There was … Continue reading Colaingrove Ltd v the Commissioners of Customs and Excise: CA 19 Feb 2004
The appellants operated a system of placing their vending machines in clubs for the sale of cigarettes. They took as consideration a share of the profits of the cigarettes sold, and, in return, maintained the machines. They claimed that the machines were not placed pursuant to a licence to occupy land, a licence of immovable … Continue reading Commissioners of Customs and Excise v Sinclair Collis Limited: HL 7 Jun 2001
Europa In the absence of implementation of the Sixth Council Directive (77/388/EEC) on the harmonization of the laws of the Member States relating to turnover taxes, a credit negotiator may rely on the tax exemption provision contained in Article 13B(d)(1) of the directive in respect of transactions carried out between 1 January 1978 and 30 … Continue reading Weissgerber v Finanzamt Neustadt/Weinstrasse (Judgment): ECJ 14 Jul 1988
ECJ Sixth VAT Directive – Article 13B(b) – Exempt transactions – Letting of immovable property – Meaning – Cigarette vending machines installed in commercial premises.The claimants installed cigarette vending machines on shop premises, with the shop-owners taking a proportion of the takings. They claimed exemption from VAT on the agreements as being ‘lettings of immovable … Continue reading Sinclair Collis Ltd v Commissioners of Customs and Excise: ECJ 12 Jun 2003
ECJ Sixth VAT Directive – Article 2(1), Article 4(1) and (2), Article 5(1) and Article 6(1) – Economic activity – Supplies of goods – Supplies of services – Abusive practice – Transactions designed solely to obtain a tax advantage.The court set out the principle of abuse of right, saying: ‘in the sphere of VAT, an … Continue reading Halifax plc etc v Commissioners of Customs and Excise: ECJ 21 Feb 2006
