Finance Act 2003

Section 19

SCHEDULE 1 U.K. VAT: face-value vouchers

1 U.K. In Part 3 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (c. 23) (application of Act in particular cases) insert after section 51A—

“51B Face-value vouchers

Schedule 10A shall have effect with respect to face-value vouchers.”.

2 U.K. After Schedule 10 to that Act insert—

“SCHEDULE 10A U.K. Face-value vouchers

Meaning of “face-value voucher” etc U.K.

1 (1) In this Schedule “face-value voucher” means a token, stamp or voucher (whether in physical or electronic form) that represents a right to receive goods or services to the value of an amount stated on it or recorded in it.

(2) References in this Schedule to the “face value” of a voucher are to the amount referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above.

Nature of supply U.K.

2 The issue of a face-value voucher, or any subsequent supply of it, is a supply of services for the purposes of this Act.

Treatment of credit vouchers U.K.

3 (1) This paragraph applies to a face-value voucher issued by a person who—

(a) is not a person from whom goods or services may be obtained by the use of the voucher, and

(b) undertakes to give complete or partial reimbursement to any such person from whom goods or services are so obtained.

Such a voucher is referred to in this Schedule as a “credit voucher”.

(2) The consideration for any supply of a credit voucher shall be disregarded for the purposes of this Act except to the extent (if any) that it exceeds the face value of the voucher.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) above does not apply if any of the persons from whom goods or services are obtained by the use of the voucher fails to account for any of the VAT due on the supply of those goods or services to the person using the voucher to obtain them.

Treatment of retailer vouchers U.K.

4 (1) This paragraph applies to a face-value voucher issued by a person who—

(a) is a person from whom goods or services may be obtained by the use of the voucher, and

(b) if there are other such persons, undertakes to give complete or partial reimbursement to those from whom goods or services are so obtained.

Such a voucher is referred to in this Schedule as a “retailer voucher”.

(2) The consideration for the issue of a retailer voucher shall be disregarded for the purposes of this Act except to the extent (if any) that it exceeds the face value of the voucher.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) above does not apply if—

(a) the voucher is used to obtain goods or services from a person other than the issuer, and

(b) that person fails to account for any of the VAT due on the supply of those goods or services to the person using the voucher to obtain them.

(4) Any supply of a retailer voucher subsequent to the issue of it shall be treated in the same way as the supply of a voucher to which paragraph 6 below applies.

Treatment of postage stamps U.K.

5 The consideration for the supply of a face-value voucher that is a postage stamp shall be disregarded for the purposes of this Act except to the extent (if any) that it exceeds the face value of the stamp.

Treatment of other kinds of face-value voucher U.K.

6 (1) This paragraph applies to a face-value voucher that is not a credit voucher, a retailer voucher or a postage stamp.

(2) A supply of such a voucher is chargeable at the rate in force under section 2(1) (standard rate) except where sub-paragraph (3), (4) or (5) below applies.

(3) Where the voucher is one that can only be used to obtain goods or services in one particular non-standard rate category, the supply of the voucher falls in that category.

(4) Where the voucher is used to obtain goods or services all of which fall in one particular non-standard rate category, the supply of the voucher falls in that category.

(5) Where the voucher is used to obtain goods or services in a number of different rate categories—

(a) the supply of the voucher shall be treated as that many different supplies, each falling in the category in question, and

(b) the value of each of those supplies shall be determined on a just and reasonable basis.

Vouchers supplied free with other goods or services U.K.

7 Where—

(a) a face-value voucher (other than a postage stamp) and other goods or services are supplied to the same person in a composite transaction, and

(b) the total consideration for the supplies is no different, or not significantly different, from what it would be if the voucher were not supplied,

the supply of the voucher shall be treated as being made for no consideration.

Interpretation U.K.

8 (1) In this Schedule—

• “credit voucher” has the meaning given by paragraph 3(1) above;

• “face value” has the meaning given by paragraph 1(2) above;

• “face value voucher” has the meaning given by paragraph 1(1) above;

• “retailer voucher” has the meaning given by paragraph 4(1) above.

(2) For the purposes of this Schedule—

(a) the “rate categories” of supplies are—

(i) supplies chargeable at the rate in force under section 2(1) (standard rate),

(ii) supplies chargeable at the rate in force under section 29A (reduced rate),

(iii) zero-rated supplies, and

(iv) exempt supplies and other supplies that are not taxable supplies;

(b) the “non-standard rate categories” of supplies are those in sub-paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv) of paragraph (a) above;

(c) goods or services are in a particular rate category if a supply of those goods or services falls in that category.

(3) A reference in this Schedule to a voucher being used to obtain goods or services includes a reference to the case where it is used as part-payment for those goods or services.”.

3 U.K. In Schedule 6 to the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (c. 23) (valuation: special cases), omit paragraph 5 (vouchers etc).

4 U.K. The amendments made by this Schedule apply to supplies of tokens, stamps or vouchers issued on or after 9th April 2003.