United Kingdom Publishes Guidance on Supply-Splitting Tax Avoidance Schemes

June 28, 2017

Kaitlyn Smethurst

Author

Sovos

This blog was last updated on June 27, 2021

On June 26, 2017 Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) published Spotlight 38, which divulges the HMRC position on supply-splitting tax avoidance schemes. The publication makes clear that HMRC considers any type of VAT supply-splitting arrangements, when designed to reduce the amount of VAT owed, to be tax avoidance. The publication goes on to state that those such arrangements “should be taxed as a single supply where (a) multiple suppliers are used where the same elements could be provided by one supplier, and/or (b) where the customer has no opportunity to decline to take one on of the individual elements.” HMRC has stated that it will continue to challenge these arrangements, through legal action if necessary.

For more information, and to see the original publication please see the HMRC website here.

Kaitlyn Smethurst

Katie Smethurst is a Regulatory Counsel at Sovos. Within Sovos' Regulatory Analysis function, Katie focuses on global sales tax and VAT issues, supporting both the tax determination and reporting engines. Katie received her B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from Roger Williams University and her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. She is a member of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Bars.

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