SO SORRY About Vat!
Tax tribunal ruling forces Beaulieu to collect tax at its autojumble events
eaulieu Autojumble organisers have apologised for having to charge 20 per cent VAT to stallholders following an Inland Revenue ruling.
They are, however, proposing to absorb half of the cost that has to be charged to stallholders next year.
Beaulieu spokesman, Ben Wanklyn, says: ‘ We didn’t have any complaints about the VAT charge. People have been very supportive and we’ve had a really good year.
‘Following a tax tribunal ruling in favour of HMRC, it has become a requirement for us to collect VAT on stand, Automart and other related bookings. We do appreciate that adding an extra 20 per cent is a significant rise for exhibitors not registered for VAT.
‘As a result, we have decided to absorb up to half of the increase this has created. However, for those registered, the introduction of VAT could well result in a reduction of costs. We apologise for this situation, but it is something outside of our control which many of our stallholders have appreciated.’
The charges were introduced this year, but didn’t seem to impact on the number of stands being booked – some 2341 were booked for the September International Autojumble earlier this month, which was attended by more than 34,000 people.
Next year’s Beaulieu Spring Autojumble is provisionally set for May.