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General => The Shed => Topic started by: SamLouise on December 06, 2008, 20:37:51

Title: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: SamLouise on December 06, 2008, 20:37:51
Excuse my ignorance - finance not my strong point, hehe - I am fully aware of the change in the VAT rate but I'm a bit confused about a transaction I made online yesterday.  I went on to the site Expansys to get my OH his Christmas present and the prices quoted on the items that I wanted INCLUDED VAT but when I added them to my basket, the VAT disappeared (and I mean all of it, not just some of it) and the price dropped considerably.  I thought, ok, perhaps it will go back on when I actually pay at the checkout - but it didn't.  So my question is, where did my VAT go, please?  ???
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: Maidenheadtaff on December 06, 2008, 20:41:05
I'd just keep quiet mate

We were in a garden centre today and it said we haven't adjusted the vat rate as its too complicated to do,i guess their s/w couldn't cope which is very odd but i asume the prices were reduced by 2.5% but we didn't buy anything anyway

Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: SamLouise on December 07, 2008, 11:26:59
MT, I'll certainly be keeping schtum about it but am just wondering what happened  ;D

Anyone  ???
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: saddad on December 07, 2008, 12:14:55
Hopefully you have been blessed by the Christmas fairies!!  ;D
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: hopalong on December 07, 2008, 12:22:06
A few retailers I've spoken to recently about the 2.5% VAT cut say it was just a headline-grabbing gimmick that would not make much difference to consumers or boost spending but was causing headaches for retailers.  Surely a much better idea would be to cut taxes for low and middle income families?
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: debster on December 07, 2008, 13:40:46
well my mobile is pay as you go with orange they emailed me to tell me that if i top up my £10 it will now credit me with £10.25, so they have it sorted
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: Carol on December 07, 2008, 13:54:26
I had that message as well Debs.  another message free if you put £10 in wow.  I have been wondering about food prices, spose I could google what is VAT rated.  Chocolate, cakes, sweets etc has VAT I think. 

Good for you Sam, a nce surprise for Xmas. 

I bought a jumper for myself on Fri. in Principals.  It wasa £35 on the tag but paid only £23??  after discount and VAT reduction was taken into affect.  Pity it has to go back though -  where is that diet sheet. :-[ :-[
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: hopalong on December 07, 2008, 14:08:23
Ok, there's some good news. Let's stay positive!  :) However.... The VAT cut is temporary and gives the biggest benefits those with money to spend. And the people I mentioned in the earlier post who've moaned to me recently have been smaller businesses who find it harder to cope with this kind of change. :(
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: SamLouise on December 07, 2008, 14:23:34
No grumbling from me, I've just worked out that it saved me £28-29 on my order  ;D I still think they'll come looking for it though when they realise what's happened, lol!

Carol, keep the jumper and tell yourself you'll be good after Christmas  ;D
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: honeybee on December 07, 2008, 15:12:54
I work at Ikea and its not been possible to change our advertised prices just yet as thats a mammoth taks in itself, but the prices do automatically reduce at the till to consider the reduction in VAT.
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: Moonbeam65 on December 07, 2008, 18:58:48
Just starting to buy in new stock for our lotto store 2.5 less is making a difference will be passing on our savings to our members .
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: caroline7758 on December 07, 2008, 19:40:39
I was expecting Saddad to give us the maths on this- the reduction in the VAT rate is 2.5% but the reduction in price is only about 2.1%, because if something cost 100 + VAT, before it was 117.5, now it's 115, a difference of 2.5, which is only 2.1% of 117.5

If you see what I mean...!
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: shaun01 on December 07, 2008, 19:47:00
Quote from: caroline7758 on December 07, 2008, 19:40:39
I was expecting Saddad to give us the maths on this- the reduction in the VAT rate is 2.5% but the reduction in price is only about 2.1%, because if something cost 100 + VAT, before it was 117.5, now it's 115, a difference of 2.5, which is only 2.1% of 117.5

If you see what I mean...!
nope not a clue i look at it this way if i spend a tenner i will save 22p if i spend a fiver i save 11p mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm not much is it  ???
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: telboy on December 13, 2008, 21:29:33
O.K. my little experts,
bought two vouchers from Argos & for 'National garden' as Christmas pressies.
Who gets the VAT benefit when cashed in?

Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: Melbourne12 on December 14, 2008, 10:09:11
Quote from: telboy on December 13, 2008, 21:29:33
O.K. my little experts,
bought two vouchers from Argos & for 'National garden' as Christmas pressies.
Who gets the VAT benefit when cashed in?



In theory, the consumer, at the expense of the retailer.  Assuming you bought the vouchers when the VAT rate was 17.5%, then the treasury will have got the 17.5% as of the transaction date.

When they're cashed in, with VAT at 15%, in theory, the recipient should get more goods for the face value of the vouchers, since prices should have dropped by 2.13%. 
Title: Re: Where did my VAT go?
Post by: Shirley on December 14, 2008, 14:58:22

Some of the supermarket till receipts have an * against them - I think these are the items with VAT, i.e. chocolate biscuits.   SL I wonder if the item you bought was zero rated and VAT had been added to all the list prices. Like the others have said, keep quiet about it, but check your card payments just in case they take off the difference at a later date if it is a mistake