DIY Vat Reclaim - Timeline

[richo106]

Hi All

 

I just thought I would share my VAT reclaim timeline to let other people know current timings etc..

 

I completed the VAT 431c form using the online method (excel spreadsheet) on 4th September

10th September I received an email asking to submit 21 invoices, i sent these back the same day using the online portal

I received a letter on 27th September saying how much they will be paying and queries they had regarding 5 invoices(not enough detail)

Money received 1st October

Re-sent the queried invoices with additional details on 9th October

The remainder of the money received today (4th Nov)

 

In all honesty I found this process very good with no issues, I rang up once to ask a question and got through straight away

It certainly helped keeping an up to date record/spreadsheet throughout the build otherwise this would of been a mammoth task at the end and no doubt things would of been missed 

 

 

 

[Tony L]

That's good to know.  Thanks for sharing, & congratulations on reaching the VAT reclaim stage of your project.

[Jenki]

Ours wasn't as quick as that and still. Not resolved yet.

Submitted 24th July.

Questions asked and answered  7th Aug - this was relating to my wife completing the return but my name being on the the planning application.

 

Chased Oct 1st.

Chased Oct 17th.

18th Oct asked to send 26 invoices 

19th Oct sent invoices

26th Oct received part payment

28th Oct received letter via post showing items not paid. We are still trying to sort these invoices as it's around 2K on the positive, they found 2 invoices that were incorrect on the Vat and actually increased the claim for those items.

 

 

[nod]

That’s good to know 

We are almost at the reclaim stage 

The last time we did this We had to physically send every invoice to them Making copies seem to take forever 

Do they only ask for a random sample now 

[Andehh]

Just to double check as we are soon to start this, is it 6 months from building control sign off as a general rule to stick to?

 

Great info though, thank you.

[Jenki]

2 hours ago, nod said:

Do they only ask for a random sample now 

I think there is some program to interrogate the submitted list.

They asked us for 26 invoices, some large item invoices kitchen, windows, treatment plant etc,  but they also found a duplicate( this was an invoice and a proforma invoice submitted  in error, for the same amount different  reference. Also they found two invoices that were actually quotes / proforma's) we sent the wrong ones, and the reference were e.g. q123456 and pro9986. .

Top tip :double check your list before typing in the the details.

 

[richo106]

15 hours ago, nod said:

That’s good to know 

We are almost at the reclaim stage 

The last time we did this We had to physically send every invoice to them Making copies seem to take forever 

Do they only ask for a random sample now 

Yes I physically had a hard copy of every invoice as when I started my build this was the way i was going to do it, however since being able to do it online you can do it using the spreadsheet template found online. So didn't send any invoices to start with. The spreadsheet needs: Invoice No, Date, Description, Name of Supplier, VAT Reg No, Total amount excl. VAT, VAT amount, Invoice in your name

 

I wouldn't say random but a selection of the higher amount ones. There was none for small amounts. I had 359 invoices and they only asked for 21

 

[Pocster]

3 hours ago, richo106 said:

had 359 invoices

Hmmmm ; I’ve got around 900 and since Thursday been adding them in to their template. Getting a bit bored now 😝

[Thorfun]

6 hours ago, Pocster said:

Hmmmm ; I’ve got around 900 and since Thursday been adding them in to their template. Getting a bit bored now 😝

Don’t suppose you could post a link to that template could you please? Save me going looking. I have a massive pile of invoices I need to start going through. 😢

[Pocster]

3 minutes ago, Thorfun said:

Don’t suppose you could post a link to that template could you please? Save me going looking. I have a massive pile of invoices I need to start going through. 😢

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-refunds-for-new-builds-if-youre-a-diy-housebuilder#making-a-claim

[Thorfun]

4 minutes ago, Pocster said:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-refunds-for-new-builds-if-youre-a-diy-housebuilder#making-a-claim

Nice one. 👍

[richo106]

Hi All

 

I have got a query if anyone could help, as you know from post above I have now completed my VAT reclaim and received the money, this money has no allowed me to look at getting quite a few blinds installed (£3-4k) and my driveway (at least £20k)

 

Even though I have completed my VAT return can I still ask the contractors to charge me the lower 5% vat rate?

 

Can I them submit an additional claim for this VAT? My blinds will be done Jan/Feb time but my drive won't be done until mid-late next year

 

Any information/advice on this would be appreciated

 

Many Thanks

[Pocster]

2 hours ago, richo106 said:

Hi All

 

I have got a query if anyone could help, as you know from post above I have now completed my VAT reclaim and received the money, this money has no allowed me to look at getting quite a few blinds installed (£3-4k) and my driveway (at least £20k)

 

Even though I have completed my VAT return can I still ask the contractors to charge me the lower 5% vat rate?

 

Can I them submit an additional claim for this VAT? My blinds will be done Jan/Feb time but my drive won't be done until mid-late next year

 

Any information/advice on this would be appreciated

 

Many Thanks

I think you only get one bite of the cherry I.e can only submit once and that’s it . Actually submitted mine online today - sure I saw wording to that effect .

[Pocster]

Crumbs ! . 2 days later after online submission already had an email from them ! Asking for copies of certain invoices . The largest vat one is £200 , smallest £8 …. 😝

[Pocster]

They seem to want unsurprisingly the bigger bills i.e. insulation and of course walk on glazing!!!

Unfortunately their website only allows 20 uploads and some of my single invoices are in fact multiple pages. So I'm stuck until a human looks at this.

[Pocster]

1 hour ago, Pocster said:

largest vat one is £200

Zero missing !!!

[Jenki]

19 minutes ago, Pocster said:

They seem to want unsurprisingly the bigger bills i.e. insulation and of course walk on glazing!!!

Unfortunately their website only allows 20 uploads and some of my single invoices are in fact multiple pages. So I'm stuck until a human looks at this.

What I did was each invoice even if multiple pages was 1 pdf so multiple pages on one file. And when I got to 20, I then went through there complicated add extra documents, then added the extra invoices and in the description  said this was a document they asked for. I uploaded 28 this way.

[Andehh]

We start ours on Monday!

[AndrewGreenwell]

Hi thanks for this update and advice. We are currently in the the middle of this. Excel spreadsheet being completed and it seems as though the physical receipts do not have to be sent which will make a huge difference as we did this before and took ages. I am guessing with the VAT numbers and invoice numbers they can check all the businesses who have reported their VAT returns and drill down to confirm the validity of the invoice. If this is the case well done the HMRC for this. 
 

I don’t know is the above is possible but if not a lot is based on goodwill and the house builder being extremely honest. One thing I have seen which is new is that Building control sign off is now not needed. HMRC will accept that you are living in the property even without full sign off (as we are) and take other evidence such as utility bills as confirmation of completion. 

[Pocster]

Mines all done .

Apart from some minor ‘ failed ‘ invoices there was only 1 I couldn’t claim for . I was charged vat when I should not have been . Guess I never noticed even though it was a big purchase . There is a 4 yr rule that a company can appeal any vat errors on receipts to customers. But this was just over the 4 yr limit - typically !!

So lost over 1k in vat on that one .

System for claiming seems pretty good .

[Thorfun]

12 hours ago, Pocster said:

Mines all done .

Apart from some minor ‘ failed ‘ invoices there was only 1 I couldn’t claim for . I was charged vat when I should not have been . Guess I never noticed even though it was a big purchase . There is a 4 yr rule that a company can appeal any vat errors on receipts to customers. But this was just over the 4 yr limit - typically !!

So lost over 1k in vat on that one .

System for claiming seems pretty good .

Submitted mine this evening. Hope it doesn’t take long as I need the money!

[Andehh]

Had mine pretty much all paid, other then three which I had paid the VAT when I should not have. Had to reclaim the VAT from the supplier, 2 were quick to, 3rd being slow/unsure because they've been informed by their trade body electric blinds are not vat free because they are classed as electrical appliances!? They're waiting on HMRC to confirm.

 

 

However, what a well though out process. Easy to submit, system was straightforwards and full payment within about 7 weeks over Christmas period. Very impressed.