Taxation logo taxation mission text

Since 1927 the leading authority on tax law, practice and administration

Seller was not a developer

23 March 2023
Issue: 4882 / Categories: Tax cases
Moulsdale trading as Moulsdale Properties v CRC (Scotland), Supreme Court, 22 March 2023

In May 2001 the taxpayer bought a property on which the seller had opted to tax. The taxpayer then opted to tax the property enabling him to claim back from HMRC the input VAT he had paid to the seller. In 2014 the taxpayer sold the property to a third party which was not VAT registered. He did not add VAT to the purchase price on the basis that his option to tax was disapplied and so the sale of the property was VAT exempt. HMRC disagreed saying he should have charged the purchaser VAT and then paid that VAT to HMRC.

The taxpayer’s appeal was dismissed by the First-tier and Upper Tribunals and also the Court of Session.

Sales of land and buildings are generally exempt from VAT (VATA 1994 Sch 9 Group 1). However Sch 10 para 1 gives a taxable person an option...

If you or your firm subscribes to Taxation.co.uk, please click the login box below:

If you are not a subscriber but are a registered user or have a free trial, please enter your details in the following boxes:

Alternatively, you can register free of charge to read a limited amount of subscriber content per month.
Once you have registered, you will receive an email directing you back to read this item in full.

Please reach out to customer services at +44 (0) 330 161 1234 or 'customer.services@lexisnexis.co.uk' for further assistance.

back to top icon