The domestic reverse VAT charge for building and construction services was due to come into effect from 1 October 2019. However, in early September it was announced that the start date had been put back one year. As a result, the charge will now apply from 1 October 2020.

The VAT domestic reverse charge for building and construction services comes into effect from 1 October 2019. The reverse charge represents part of a government clamp-down on VAT fraud.

Autumn Budget 2018 announced a new measure, designed to counter fraud in the construction industry, which has seen gangs of criminal traders artificially extending the chain of supply of labour services, then failing to account for all the output VAT due to HMRC by collecting the VAT on the supplies (sales) and then going "missing" before passing the VAT on to HMRC.

If you have a CIS registered limited company, obtaining gross payment status will allow you to be paid a gross amount rather than being taxed at 20% (CIS registered) or 30% (non-CIS registered).

Although the amount of tax ultimately paid on profits will be the same if you obtain CIS gross payment status, improvements in cashflow and reductions in the cost of credit, such as overdraft interest, should easily make the application process worthwhile.