Claiming VAT from supermarket

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Can my business claim vat from a till receipt from a supermarket on vatable goods or does it have to be a full vat receipt. As you can imagine you don't generally get a vat receipt from the likes of Tesco or Asda and can be quite a hassle to obtain one.

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By David Ex
03rd Nov 2021 10:55

The rules about VAT invoices can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-guide-notice-700

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Replying to David Ex:
By kenny achampong
04th Nov 2021 08:36

Do you work on the HMRC VAT helpline ?

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By lesley.barnes
03rd Nov 2021 10:58

The till receipt usually shows what you've bought and whether something has VAT on it - there is usually a letter at the side of the amount showing the VAT status. The receipts usually have a VAT number printed on them so I would say that was acceptable. I had a VAT visit for a client and it supermarket receipts were accepted.

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chips_at_mattersey
By Les Howard
03rd Nov 2021 11:22

The key rule is that, where the total value of purchases is below £250, a receipt can be used to claim input tax, as long as it has the necessary information.
If the value exceeds £250 then you need a VAT invoice showing the customer name. If you are regularly buying from a supermarket, you should make yourself known to the branch manager and arrange for VAT invoices to be emailed to you. (The supplier has a legal obligation to do this if requested.)

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Replying to leshoward:
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By David Ex
03rd Nov 2021 11:33

leshoward wrote:

If you are regularly buying from a supermarket, you should make yourself known to the branch manager and arrange for VAT invoices to be emailed to you. (The supplier has a legal obligation to do this if requested.)

Tesco is a retailer rather than a wholesaler and I have seen customers being refused bulk purchases obviously destined for commercial use. Asking for a VAT receipt rather gives away the game.

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Replying to David Ex:
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By Paul Crowley
03rd Nov 2021 11:59

Tesco really that daft?
They are selling at retail prices

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Replying to Paul Crowley:
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By David Ex
03rd Nov 2021 12:11

Paul Crowley wrote:

Tesco really that daft?
They are selling at retail prices

It’s usually (what appear to be) corner shop owners trying to hoover up Tesco “special offers”. They do sometimes actually state limits on the number of items.

I used to have a card for one of the wholesalers and was surprised (or not) how high prices were. Presumably the large supermarkets can obtain the best prices from manufacturers.

EDIT: This is from Tesco’s website. No idea if it applies generally to all Tesco “distribution channels”.

“The Tesco grocery service is available for non-commercial and domestic use only. We reserve the right to refuse orders from businesses or that we consider are for commercial or other non-domestic concerns.”

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VAT
By Jason Croke
03rd Nov 2021 12:17

You do get a VAT receipt from the likes of Asda and Tesco. All the details are on the till receipt, same with B&Q, PC World. When buying petrol the shop will often ask if you want a VAT receipt, etc.

If you have bought from a small trader/local independent shop, then the receipt must show a VAT number, date, description and value as a bare minimum else you have no evidence the shop is even VAT registered.

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Replying to Jason Croke:
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By David Ex
03rd Nov 2021 12:54

Jason Croke wrote:

You do get a VAT receipt from the likes of Asda and Tesco.

Sainsbury and Tesco self service tills now have an irritating habit of forcing you to request a printed receipt. Default is no receipt. They then have security guards on the door who occasionally asks people for proof that they have paid for their shopping ....

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RLI
By lionofludesch
03rd Nov 2021 12:53

Morrison's are best. There's a VAT summary at the bottom of the till receipt. Tesco marked standard rated stuff with a *. Not sure what they do for reduced rate. I think it might be a *.

I've never seen a VAT officer quibble about till receipts at a VAT control visit. This is truly trivial stuff.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
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By David Ex
03rd Nov 2021 13:26

lionofludesch wrote:

This is truly trivial stuff.

The OP hasn’t mentioned any figures so who knows?

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By paulwakefield1
03rd Nov 2021 14:02

Mind you there have been several occasions at our local ASDA where the pump receipts showed VAT at 5% (sadly not reflected in the price).

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Replying to paulwakefield1:
RLI
By lionofludesch
03rd Nov 2021 14:15

Happens a lot.

One supermarket used to sell Jaffa Cakes standard rated (they've since ceased trading). Plenty of folk don't seem to have cottoned on to reduced rating for a number of products.

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Northumberland flag
By MJShone
04th Nov 2021 07:12

I don't think M&S receipts have any asterisk, letter etc to indicate the different rates of VAT.

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