March questions and answers

Q. I am a sole trader and have been trading for several years. My turnover has now exceeded the VAT registration threshold and I have registered with HMRC accordingly. I am currently waiting for VAT number and certificate. Will I be able to claim back VAT on purchases made by the business before the registration date? 

A. There is a time limit for backdating claims for VAT incurred before the effective date of registration. From the date of registration, the time limit is:

– 4 years for goods you still have, or that were used to make other goods you still have;
– 6 months for services.

You can only reclaim VAT on purchases for the business now registered for VAT and they must relate to your ‘business purpose’. This means they must relate to VAT taxable goods or services that you supply.

You should reclaim them on your first VAT return and keep records including:

– invoices and receipts;
– a description and purchase dates;
– information about how they relate to your business now.

Q. I own a buy-to-let leasehold property, which currently has 49 years remaining on the lease. Can I claim a tax deduction for the legal and professional costs of extending the lease?

A. The normal legal and professional fees incurred on the renewal of a lease are generally allowable if the lease is for less than 50 years. But any proportion of the legal and professional costs that relate to the payment of a premium on the renewal of a lease are not deductible.

Where a replacement lease follows closely on a previous one, and is in broadly similar terms, a change of tenant will not normally make the associated legal and professional costs disallowable. Any proportion of the legal or other costs that relate to the payment of a premium on the renewal of a lease will, of course, remain disallowable.