Football clubs to get VAT refund

A FOOTBALL club is set for a refund after Wokingham Borough Council confirmed it had continued to charge

VAT on multiple sports pitch bookings after a governmentissued exemption.

James Wyper, secretary of Ashridge Park Football Club, said his club hires football pitches at Cantley Park and Montague Park.

He said: “Prior to March 2023, Wokingham Borough Council charged VAT on all sports pitch bookings, but an exemption on bookings in blocks of 10 or more meant that we did not pay, and the council did not collect, VAT on most bookings.

“In March, HMRC ruled bookings were not VAT liable.”

He said the council had continued to charge users at the VAT-inclusive rate.

He added: “We are paying thousands more than last year for the same facilities.”

Cllr Imogen Shepherd-Dubey, responsible for the finance portfolio at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “Despite the statement, we were aware of further reviews being undertaken.

“Following external advice, we were advised to hold off from making any changes until the full and longer term position was clarified.

“Our experience shows that sometimes government bodies issue statements or policies that are not ready to be implemented.”

She confirmed that sports pitches has now appeared on the very latest advice.

“I can assure you the council has, at no point, increased its own element of the fees.

“Now that we finally have the full confirmed understanding, we are working to view how much VAT has been paid to HMRC, and we will recover any overcharge payments.”

She said that those claims will be used to repay any organisations that were overcharged.