From March 2021, construction companies will be subjected to changes in the way the VAT charges are handled. The VAT domestic reverse charge for building and construction services will offer detailed guidelines that suppliers, constructors, and developers will need to follow. 
The VAT domestic reverse charge for building and construction services is a system for which the supplier of services and materials to a construction company will no longer handle the VAT payments to HMRC. Instead, the customer receiving such services - or the construction company - will be in charge of taking care of such payments. 
 
For this type of transaction to be possible, both parties need to be VAT-registered and subscribing to the UK CIS or the Construction Industry Scheme. These new changes will apply to standard VAT rates, as well as reduced-rate VAT charges. 
 
So, when a supplier sends an invoice to its customers, these will only include the amount charged for its services, excluding the VAT charge. However, there will need to be a statement that declares that this happens because of the VAT reverse charge system. Then, it will be a responsibility of the customer or construction company to pay this output tax directly to HMRC. 
 
Simply put, sub-contractors such as suppliers for materials and services in the construction industry will need to notify the company they supply these services to regarding the fact that they will need to pay the VAT themselves. 

So what happens in March 2021? 

The VAT reverse charge system was originally meant to be introduced in October 2019, and it was then delayed until October 2020. However, thanks to Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, its introduction has been delayed again until 1 March 2021. 
 
These delays have the aim of ensuring that all businesses in the industry have enough time to prepare and introduce the necessary changes. If your construction process has started before this date, but it is planned to carry on beyond it, it will all depend on the tax point. The tax point is the date when the VAT invoice is issued or when the payment has been received. 
 
If this date falls before 1 March 2021, it will be still regulated by the old system. If it happened afterwards, then you will need to consider the more recent changes. 

What services are included in the VAT reverse charge? 

The majority of the services and materials supplied by a sub-contractor to a construction company will be subjected to the new scheme. These include the following: 
 
Constructing, repairing, altering, extending, demolishing, and dismantling including... 
Buildings and structures 
Walls, power lines, roadworks, and electronic communications equipment, 
Aircraft runways and railways 
Offshore instalments, inland waterways, docks or harbours. 
Pipelines, wells, sewers, reservoirs, water mains 
Industrial plants and land drainage systems 
Coast protection or defence systems 
 
Also included are installations of most systems such as heating, power supply, drainage, sanitation, lighting, air-conditioning, ventilation, water supply or fire protection, as well as services for the internal cleaning of buildings and structures. This includes painting or decorating and complementary construction services
 
Services that are excluded include the following: 
Extraction of oil, minerals, and natural gas 
Works such as drilling and tunnelling for mineral, oil, and natural gas extraction 
Manufacturing parts and components for systems (heating, lighting, etc.) 
Creating or repairing artworks 
Installation of seating, shutters, security systems, alarms, CCTV, etc 
Erecting or installing signboards or advertisement boards 
The professional work and consultation of surveyors are also excluded. 
 
The reason for which this system has been introduced is to fight fraud by some suppliers who HMRC suspect of charging additional VAT amounts to their customers, and then not actually paying it back to the taxman. 
 
Such suppliers keep the extra amount that should be paid in, which usually adds up to between 5% and 20% of the total invoiced amount. And, as these suppliers keep the VAT amount, they can actually offer their services to their customers for infinitely lower prices. Their unfair competition has been hurting honest suppliers who offer competitive prices due to the added VAT. Moreover, the overall industry is suffering from the attack of such organised criminals. 
 
By moving the responsibility to pay the VAT to HMRC to the receivers of such services, the suppliers will only invoice the real cost of their services. 
 
While definitely beneficial for the honest companies in the industry, it is also worth keeping in mind that this can affect the level of cash flow for the company (since you won’t be receiving the extra 20%). However, this can easily be solved by planning for these changes in the industry. 

Next steps 

If you're concerned about these changes at all, or have any questions about how it might affect you, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us today for a no-obligation chat. 
 
 
 
 
Written by 
 
Nicola J Sorrell - 
Effective Accounting 
 
Founder | Xero Champion | IR35 Expert 
Tagged as: VAT
Share this post:
 
"I couldn't recommend them highly enough and will continue to use them for Spiral Static and all future ventures!" 
 
Matt Badley | Spiral Static 
 
 
"I have found their help in modernising my accounts invaluable and would recommend them to anyone in a heartbeat." 
 
Matthew Finch | Trailer Aid Ltd 
 
 
"The whole team at effective accounting are exceptional."  
 
Jennifer Duthie | Skribbies Ltd 
 
 
"Nicola is one of the most adept and accessible accountants that I have ever had the pleasure of working with." 
 
Carter Stewart | Transworld Consulting Ltd 
 
 
"Choosing Effective Accountants has been one of the best decisions we made when we started our company."  
 
Matthias Geeroms | OTA Insight Ltd 
 
 
"Nicola and the team have proven to be extremely professional, efficient and always on hand to answer any questions I have (and I have a lot!)." 
 
Emily Hodges | EM Hodges Ltd 
 
 
"I find the service to be prompt, professional and friendly." 
 
Simon Weightman | Mercury TS Ltd 
 
 
"They are quick to respond and are always ahead of the curve for us. Keep it up and thank you." 
 
Freda McMahon | Lobster Noodle Ltd