This session is for those who already understand the rules of VAT (possibly from one of our VAT sessions) and need to work out whether their council can reclaim VAT in relation to its use of land.

This session is unlikely to be of benefit for councils spending less than £50,000 a year, or for anyone that doesn't understand the difference between business and non-business activities or between taxable and exempt supplies.

This session explains when VAT cannot be reclaimed in relation to exempt activities and what options may be available.

Topics include:
• law and guidance
• non-business, taxable and exempt uses of land
• Apportionment of costs
• Partial exemption calculations
• Occasional breaches
• Option to tax
• Capital Goods Scheme adjustments

By the end of this session you will:
• Know where to find the relevant legislation and guidance
• Understand how to undertake a partial exemption calculation
• Recognise when a project is likely to lead to unrecoverable VAT
• Be aware of options to achieve VAT recovery

Who should attend
For clerks, finance staff and councillors of councils that lease or hire out land and buildings such as village halls, community centres, meeting rooms, sports facilities or markets, who need to understand when their council is at risk of not being able to reclaim VAT. Essential for any council contemplating major building projects, or incurring significant expenditure on running these facilities

Cost (per delegate)

£33+ VAT member
£66+ VAT non member

Course Tutor
Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP
Steve is a former Town Clerk and an accountant with 30 years' experience in public and voluntary sector finance. He now specialises in delivering training and advice on VAT and finance matters for the local council sector.

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.