VAT News

English FE Colleges are now Public Bodies - NO VAT change secured

30.11.2022

There has been much comment as to a possible reclassification of FE Colleges to become public bodies. The hope is that this would equalise access to the beneficial VAT recovery position that local authority run Sixth Form Colleges and the newer Academies network can access. News released yesterday in an article from FE Week has, however, confirmed that whilst English colleges will be reclassified as public bodies, this will not change the current VAT arrangements that they work under. This leaves colleges with the inability to recover VAT on costs incurred to support further education provision.

There are some specific VAT benefits to be secured by colleges across the UK. These are especially on the Reduced VAT rate for relevant energy costs and the removal of VAT on qualifying construction projects which deliver new buildings for their “non-business” teaching provision. Ensuring your college benefits from these reliefs will remain vital in the absence of any broadening of VAT recovery from your activities as a further education provider.

We are also seeing some activity on building projects being prompted by funding through a range of “levelling up” initiatives. VAT remains a tax with some complexities for the FE sector across the UK. To stay alert to the VAT savings that can be secured don’t hesitate to get in touch as the need arises.

Contact our education specialist VAT team at emailus@centurionvat.com – expert VAT support is only a call away.


For the avoidance of doubt, the content recorded in this news article does not constitute formal advice and we do not guarantee the accuracy of any information provided at the time of reading. It is always recommended that you seek professional advice before acting on any of the news articles or information


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