Claiming back VAT on mess dress

A question about : Claiming back VAT on mess dress

Hi

DH's clerk has indicated he should claim back the VATon his mess dress but reading the HMRC guidance it doesn't suggest he can.

Does anyone know for definite? Or has done it?

I certainly don't expect to be able to but just really making sure.

TIA

Best answers:

• On what grounds?
  I would think the only chance is if he is serving overseas outside the EU area. I.E somewhere VAT is not applicable
• He didn't ask and my take on it was that it was non essential so therefore not covered but as I am not a clerk or employed by the Mod I thought I'd check, especially as she specifically told him to do so.
  I am really not bothered for the sake of Ј100 as I expected to foot the whole bill ourselves but I like facts so when I was presented one that challenged my own views I thought I'd get to the bottom of it.
• Mess kit for WOs & SNCOs is optional so I doubt if you could claim for that reason alone in a UK/VAT area
• If there are grants and/or issue of mess dress then I understand it no longer being optional.
  I left a few years ago when it was still up to the individual to purchase their own mess dress and got no help with it at all (apart from free miniature medals through clothing stores)
• I've never served in the armed forces, I'm actually a union safety rep and think the legislation that's been refered to is this https://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/relief-tools.htm
  I've never seen the Armed forces marching in jeans and a t-shirt, so I'm going out on a limb here and say that it could be classified a company uniform!
• What about the costs of striping up and replacement uniforms, where the grant doesn't anywhere near cover the actual costs? My OH is lucky enough to have just received a major promotion, but the cost of the new kit and striping up are well-known to be significantly higher than the grant (which does help, don't get me wrong!). Are the additional costs tax deductible as an expense of employment? I think the VAT reclaim thing is a red herring?
• The right to reclaim VAT is on the basis you are VAT registerd and make sales which are subject to VAT. So I don't think that fits the profile of the OP.
  It is possible to not be charged VAT in the first place on certain goods. For example, if you buy goods from Amazon and have them sent to a BFPO which is outside of the UK and outside of the EU then you can email Amazon for a refund of the VAT.
  If the goods are delivered to a EU BFPO then Amazon require a "certificate of entitlement" which is usually countersigned by your head of department/higher ranking officer. More info here :-
  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/cust...deId=201238270
  So maybe this is more the direction you need to explore. If you've bought the mess dress from another supplier who is not Amazon, you may have to explain the rules to them before they refund you, but if they are selling military attire then they should be aware of the rules hopefully.
  The usual route is the supplier charges you VAT initially and then you apply for the refund - its just easier for the supplier that way to presume everyone pays VAT and then deal with the exceptions - else everyone would claim to be military to get things VAT free.
  Theres a website here (see link) which sells motorcycle parts to forces personnel - a bit random i know - but the web page provides clear and simple explanation as to which bit of law applies to the refund so you can quote that to the supplier.
  https://www.jesterstrickbits.co.uk/pages/BFPO-Info.html