Golfers defeated over VAT on fees
Four golf clubs have lost their fight to waive VAT charges on ‘green fees’ paid by non-members to use their courses, after a VAT tribunal rejected an appeal.
The Cumbria-based clubs, led by Keswick Golf Club, have provided use of their courses to non-members in return for a one-off fee. The club, together with three others in Silloth on Solway, Carlisle and Grange-over-Sands, said EC law exempted them from paying VAT on these fees.
The clubs pinned their hopes on the belief that Customs & Excise had misinterpreted an aspect of EC law, which stated ‘certain’ services closely linked to sport or physical education supplied by a non-profit making organisation would be VAT-exempt.
Each golf club admitted there was an element of profit in charging green fees, but said that as they were rural clubs they were not in direct competition with any commercial enterprises in the area. The tribunal disagreed, however, and found against the clubs.
The bid was the brainchild of Ian Fleming, group VAT specialist at Armstrong Watson & Co, who has also been a member of Keswick Golf Club for 19 years. He said: ‘This is another example of the difference between EC legislation and Customs & Excise practice.’
In the past decade, the professional services industry has transformed significantly. Digital disruptions, increased competition, and changing market ...
View resourceIn recent months, professional services firms are facing more pressure than ever to deliver value to clients. Often, clients look at the firms own inf...
View resourceIn a world of instant results and automated workloads, the potential for AP to drive insights and transform results is enormous. But, if you’re still ...
View resourceThe first phase of Making Tax Digital (MTD) saw the requirement for the digital submission of the VAT Return using compliant software. That’s now behi...
View resourceGlobal spend on accountancy outsourcing up by 40% in the space of five years. News comes as accountancy outsourcing specialist AdvanceTrack reports en...
View articleFollowing a profitability review, Deloitte has decided to scale back its UK deals business due to lower returns. This strategic shift could lead to jo...
View articleUK-based Dow Schofield Watts (DSW), a mid-market professional services network, announced the creation of a new division called DSW Principal Partners...
View articleEY has been undergoing significant cost-cutting measures and streamlining its operations since the abandonment of Project Everest. The firm has made t...
View articleTransitioning from an accounting firm to a consultancy model is only one part of the puzzle. The next, equally vital piece is making the market aware ...
View articleThis framework, while providing a top-line view, underscores the importance of strategic vision, operational excellence, and the spirit of continuous ...
View articleLooking ahead, the Big 4 firms face a challenging year, with ongoing cost-of-living concerns, slow economic growth, rising geopolitical tensions, and ...
View articleLast month it was reported that Deloitte would be cutting approximately 1,200 jobs in the United States, making it the latest of the Big Four accounti...
View article