Construction industry reverse charge VAT delayed until 2020

HMRC has bowed to pressure and has announced a one-year delay to 2020 to the introduction of reverse charge VAT in the construction sector, due to be implemented next month, after industry bodies and accounting specialists highlighted concerns about lack of preparation and the impact on businesses

The new rules, originally set to come into effect from 1 October 2019 and now deferred for 12 months, mark a complete overhaul of the way VAT is payable on building and construction invoices. Under the domestic reverse charge the customer receiving the service will have to pay the VAT owed straight to HMRC instead of paying the supplier if they report under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

Businesses need to adapt their accounting systems for dealing with VAT and there will be a negative impact on the cash-flows for many affected businesses, as they will no longer get VAT payments from customers for services where the reverse charge applies. Some 150,000 businesses in the construction and building sector will be affected by the change.

Now HMRC has issued a policy brief stating introduction of the new VAT regime will be delayed for a period of 12 months until 1 October 2020. It says this will give businesses more time to prepare and will also avoid the changes coinciding with Brexit.

In July, a Federation of Master Builders (FMB) survey of around 8,000 SME construction firm members found that 69% were not aware of reverse charge VAT at all. Of those who were, 67% have not prepared for the changes, and the industry body warned of potential ‘chaos’ when the new regime started.

During the twelve months before the charge now comes in, HMRC says it will focus additional resource on identifying and tackling fraud in the construction sector. It will also work closely with the sector to raise awareness and provide additional guidance and support to make sure all businesses will be ready for the new implementation date.

HRMC also said it recognises that some businesses will have already changed their invoices to meet the needs of the reverse charge and cannot easily change them back in time. Where genuine errors have occurred, HMRC will take into account the fact that the implementation date has changed.

Those businesses which have opted for monthly VAT returns ahead of the 1 October 2019 implementation date can reverse this by using the appropriate stagger option on the HMRC website.

CIOT welcomed the announcement, saying it would lessen the likely flurry of disputes between suppliers and customers as to whether or not VAT should be charged.

Linda Skilbeck, vice-chair of CIOT’s indirect taxes sub-committee, said: ‘If the government had pressed ahead with a start this October we envisaged significant confusion amongst businesses, leading to disputes between suppliers and customers as to whether or not VAT should be charged.

‘It would have led to an additional influx of calls to HMRC’s phone lines, while HMRC and its call centres were already busy dealing with the implementation of Making Tax Digital, as well as the consequences of Brexit.

‘A start date of October 2020 is more sensible. This should allow time for a dedicated information campaign to be operated by HMRC, with the assistance of industry and professional bodies. Such a campaign could include direct communications with businesses in the sector, particularly those registered for the Construction Industry Scheme, as well as improvements to the content and accessibility of guidance on gov.uk.’

The delay was also welcomed by Mike Cherry, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, who said: ‘With small construction businesses already suffering due to unprecedented uncertainty, slowing growth and rising costs, this was clearly not the right moment to hit them with the reverse charge.

‘Small firms in this sector are already disproportionately impacted by late payments. Roll-out of this change without due care will make a bad situation worse, restricting cash-flow and threatening the futures of many.

‘It’s also encouraging to see HMRC providing reassurances that those who’ve already changed invoice arrangements in preparation for the change will not be punished as a result of confusion following this late intervention.’

HMRC Revenue and Customs Brief 10 (2019): domestic reverse charge VAT for construction services – delay in implementation

Accountancy Daily