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VAT & Indirect Taxes

VAT & Indirect Taxes

VAT & Indirect Taxes

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Overview

Our VAT and indirect tax specialists advise clients on a wide range of domestic and international VAT issues, customs duties and other indirect taxes. We focus on providing commercial, technically astute and practical advice. Our team includes experienced advisors in the US, China, Germany, as well as the UK.

We have extensive experience in contentious and non-contentious VAT and indirect tax work including customs duties. Simple administrative errors in relation to customs duties can give rise to significant penalties for importers of goods into the EU. We adopt a strategic and practical approach to negotiating on such issues.

Unparalleled breadth and depth of knowledge

Ranked in Legal 500 UK, VAT and Indirect Tax, Band 2

Our work, both within the UK and globally

We help a wide range of organisations, such as investment banks, large multinationals, pension funds, real estate investment funds, property owners and investors.

  • International VAT issues
  • VAT in business acquisitions and disposals
  • VAT in financial services and insurance
  • VAT on real estate transactions, including the transfer of a business as a going concern (TOGC), option to tax and anti-avoidance measures
  • VAT litigation
  • VAT planning
  • Customs Duties disputes

Our work, both within the UK and globally

We help a wide range of organisations, such as investment banks, large multinationals, pension funds, real estate investment funds, property owners and investors.

  • International VAT issues
  • VAT in business acquisitions and disposals
  • VAT in financial services and insurance
  • VAT on real estate transactions, including the transfer of a business as a going concern (TOGC), option to tax and anti-avoidance measures
  • VAT litigation
  • VAT planning
  • Customs Duties disputes

Meet The Team

View All Related Professionals 

Alan I. Appel

Senior Tax Consultant, New York

+1 212 541 2292

View Profile 

Alan Sinyor

Consultant, London

+44 (0) 20 3400 4048

View Profile 

Meet The Team

View All Related Professionals 

Alan I. Appel

Senior Tax Consultant, New York

+1 212 541 2292

View Profile 

Alan Sinyor

Consultant, London

+44 (0) 20 3400 4048

View Profile 

Meet The Team

Alan I. Appel

Senior Tax Consultant, New York

+1 212 541 2292

View Profile 

Alan Sinyor

Consultant, London

+44 (0) 20 3400 4048

View Profile 

Related Practice Areas

Tax & Private Client 

International Trade 

  • Tax & Private Client

  • International Trade

Experience

  • Advised on a Tanzanian VAT dispute including advising on arbitration strategy and proceedings for Global Rubber Sarl. 
  • Advised on the tax structuring of several mixed-use sites including a redevelopment to provide two mixed use office/retail and residential/retail buildings for Land Securities.  
  • Advised on VAT issues on the sale of the corporate group owning Nido Student Living business to a joint venture between Greystar and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board for £600m, one of the largest student accommodation deals in recent times. 
  • Advised on its sale and leaseback Park Plaza London Waterloo for £160 million for PPHE Hotel Group Limited.  
  • Advised on the acquisition of the corporate structure owning Thomas More Square for £284m and a joint venture.
  • Won a landmark dispute for Wine Brandy Plant Alliance-1892 LLC by proving to the Supreme Court that import VAT deductions had been adjusted unlawfully.
  • Acted for John Deere against the customs authority appealing the decision to raise the customs value of goods imported by the client.

Related Insights

View All Related Insights

Awards
Sep 28, 2022

Legal 500 UK 2023

Awards
October 22, 2021

Chambers UK 2022

Awards
October 5, 2021

Legal 500 UK 2022

Insights
Feb 11, 2021

The VAT reverse charge is coming soon. So what else is new?

If the Brexit deal, ongoing Covid-19 developments and updates on the Building Safety Bill and the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act isn’t enough to keep those in the construction industry on their toes, the latest guidance from HMRC is that the VAT reverse charge on construction services will commence from 1 March 2021.
Insights
Aug 04, 2020

New HMRC guidance on VAT and SDLT treatment of lease variations

During the Covid-19 pandemic, landlords and tenants are increasingly varying their leases to reflect the business difficulties facing tenants. In response, on 29 July 2020 HMRC issued guidance on which types of lease variations may result in a VAT or SDLT charge. HMRC say that this guidance does not change their policy, but one could question whether this is correct.
Insights
Jul 08, 2020

UK economic statement: VAT cut for hospitality sector and SDLT saving for residential property

After the broad brush measures taken at the start of the COVID-19 crisis, UK Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is now targeting help for some of the hardest hit sectors of the economy and is supporting jobs in particular.  In his economic statement today the Chancellor presented his plan to protect, support and retain jobs.  This included temporary tax cuts to stamp duty land tax on acquiring residential property and temporary targeted VAT cuts.

Related Insights

News
Oct 19, 2023
Chambers UK Ranks BCLP in 41 practice areas and recognizes 74 lawyers
News
Sep 07, 2023
BCLP recognized in ‘World Tax’ rankings 2023
Awards
Sep 28, 2022
Legal 500 UK 2023
Awards
October 22, 2021
Chambers UK 2022
Awards
October 5, 2021
Legal 500 UK 2022
Insights
Feb 11, 2021
The VAT reverse charge is coming soon. So what else is new?
If the Brexit deal, ongoing Covid-19 developments and updates on the Building Safety Bill and the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act isn’t enough to keep those in the construction industry on their toes, the latest guidance from HMRC is that the VAT reverse charge on construction services will commence from 1 March 2021.
Insights
4 February 2021
VAT on dilapidations – where are we?
Insights
Aug 04, 2020
New HMRC guidance on VAT and SDLT treatment of lease variations
During the Covid-19 pandemic, landlords and tenants are increasingly varying their leases to reflect the business difficulties facing tenants. In response, on 29 July 2020 HMRC issued guidance on which types of lease variations may result in a VAT or SDLT charge. HMRC say that this guidance does not change their policy, but one could question whether this is correct.
Insights
Jul 08, 2020
UK economic statement: VAT cut for hospitality sector and SDLT saving for residential property
After the broad brush measures taken at the start of the COVID-19 crisis, UK Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is now targeting help for some of the hardest hit sectors of the economy and is supporting jobs in particular.  In his economic statement today the Chancellor presented his plan to protect, support and retain jobs.  This included temporary tax cuts to stamp duty land tax on acquiring residential property and temporary targeted VAT cuts.