Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential financial savings to the Exchequer of (a) withdrawing the postponed VAT accounting process and (b) bringing forward payment of VAT on imports using the same facilities as apply to customs duties.

Postponed VAT accounting is an established and valued part of the UK’s VAT regime, which provides significant simplification and cashflow benefits to UK businesses who import goods from overseas. Unlike customs duty, VAT paid upon importation of goods is typically able to be reclaimed where the goods are sold on or used in the course of business. Postponed VAT accounting allows businesses to account for and reclaim the VAT on the same VAT return, thereby producing a nil result, rather than paying VAT on import and reclaiming it on a future VAT return. Postponed VAT accounting does not change the overall VAT liability on any imported goods.