Livewire hits back at HMRC with Tribunal hearing

The mobile phone trader which has been unable to trade for almost a year due to withheld VAT, has received a positive judgement from a London Tribunal hearing

Written by Sara Yirrell

CRN, 24 Jan 2008

Mobile phone trader Livewire Telecom has scored a victory against HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in its fight to reclaim back its VAT payments.

The Northamptonshire-based firm had originally invoked a Judicial Review process through the High Courts against HMRC after it withheld a seven-figure VAT repayment for eight months under its ‘extended verification’ process (CRN Online, 29 January).

But HMRC refused to repay the VAT and Livewire went to appeal at the official VAT Tribunal in London.

The appeal has now been heard and a judgement handed down, which early reports have indicated reflect a positive result for Livewire and also for other traders in similar positions concerning withheld VAT.

More updates on the judgement to come.