Vat on Independent school fees?

[Mr Kobayashi]

I’m saying there should be.

Yes, without a doubt. A hybrid school (which it ultimately is) is a pragmatic way of raising educational standards.

Who ultimately pays the fees for the boarders? If they are from eligible military families which a large number are, it will be the Tax payer via the MOD. Seems unnecessary.

 

[metalblue]

I’m saying there should be.

Yes, without a doubt. A hybrid school (which it ultimately is) is a pragmatic way of raising educational standards.

I appreciate you say there should be and that would be “fair”. But there isn’t going to be. These schools are going to be exempt from paying VAT on boarding fees. It would certainly offer a potential to claim uncompetitive practice.

I entirely agree with the last paragraph. A quick search shows there are 30 of these hybrid schools in the UK, it should be something more widely available as offers the best of both worlds.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I appreciate you say there should be and that would be “fair”. But there isn’t going to be. These schools are going to be exempt from paying VAT on boarding fees. It would certainly offer a potential to claim uncompetitive practice.

I entirely agree with the last paragraph. A quick search shows there are 30 of these hybrid schools in the UK, it should be something more widely available as offers the best of both worlds.

Why don’t private schools use the loophole to get round fees for their boarders? 90% boarding fee and 10% main fee.

Won’t help the non-boarders, but would help the others until the loophole is closed?

 

[johnnytapia]

I was merely establishing that for state boarding schools you don’t pay VAT on boarding fees but you do for private boarding school. There is a certain “discrepancy” there and given one of the 3 guiding principles in the legislation is fairness it’s failing that test quite spectacularly.

You hum it, I’ll play it…

 

[johnnytapia]

My son went to state boarding school and absolutely loved it, apart from the first year, which he hated. It definitely helped him hugely academically. He has very fond memories of that place. And because of where it was I got to see him more than I otherwise would. They were totally relaxed about visits. In the weekday evenings, or at weekends. No need to give any notice to the school. You could just rock up.

My girlfriend hates the notion of sending your kids away, and I get that, but no two children are the same and there will be plenty who absolutely love the experience. My lad is living testament to that.

And should there be VAT on the boarding fees? Absolutely there should.

Sounds like prison. Giving notice of visits.

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

Sounds like borstal. Giving notice of visits.

 

[metalblue]

Why don’t private schools use the loophole to get round fees for their boarders? 90% boarding fee and 10% main fee.

Won’t help the non-boarders, but would help the others until the loophole is closed?

There is no loophole to exploit. Private schools will pay VAT on boarding fees as of Jan 2025.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

There is no loophole to exploit. Private schools will pay VAT on boarding fees as of Jan 2025.

Fair enough.

 

[metalblue]

Fair enough.

TBF to the government they have thought about a few of the potential loopholes and covered them in the draft legislation. I may not agree with the policy in principle but if it’s going to happen then I do expect it will be robust so credit where credit is due (even if I think it may be open to legal challenges).

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

TBF to the government they have thought about a few of the potential loopholes and covered them in the draft legislation. I may not agree with the policy in principle but if it’s going to happen then I do expect it will be robust so credit where credit is due (even if I think it may be open to legal challenges).

Agreed. Fairness is paramount.

 

[metalblue]

TBF to the government they have thought about a few of the potential loopholes and covered them in the draft legislation. I may not agree with the policy in principle but if it’s going to happen then I do expect it will be robust so credit where credit is due (even if I think it may be open to legal challenges).

And so it begins…

Labour’s VAT on private school fees faces high court challenge over human rights concerns

Labour’s proposal to impose VAT on private school fees from January is facing a High Court legal challenge on grounds that it breaches human rights law.

bmmagazine.co.uk

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

And so it begins…

Labour’s VAT on private school fees faces high court challenge over human rights concerns

Labour’s proposal to impose VAT on private school fees from January is facing a High Court legal challenge on grounds that it breaches human rights law.

bmmagazine.co.uk

Applying that argument, it logically follows that anyone who cannot afford a private education has children that are disadvantaged in education.

 

[mosssideblue]

Another 111 kids looking for places in state schools….

Good

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

And so it begins…

Labour’s VAT on private school fees faces high court challenge over human rights concerns

Labour’s proposal to impose VAT on private school fees from January is facing a High Court legal challenge on grounds that it breaches human rights law.

bmmagazine.co.uk

There is absolutely no possibility that they can succeed and, unless their lawyers are doing it Pro Bono, they’re sailing fairly close to the wind if they’re suggesting they can.

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

Johnson is the single biggest argument, not for VAT, but for the abolition of private schools.
If you looked at his qualifications and read his CV, he’d have got nowhere near to being a success. I saw him described as “if he’d been born the son of a Suffolk farmer he’d have been allowed to pick some herbs, but wouldn’t have been allowed to drive the tractor or operate any machinery.”
Instead, because of untrammelled privilege, he managed to achieve the highest office in the land. And we wonder why this country is like it is……

 

[metalblue]

Applying that argument, it logically follows that anyone who cannot afford a private education has children that are disadvantaged in education.

Then they should bring a case against the government to raise standards so they are not disadvantaged. That doesn’t change the argument being made (however strong or weak it is).

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Then they should bring a case against the government to raise standards so they are not disadvantaged. That doesn’t change the argument being made (however strong or weak it is).

That would be impossible to commence a claim in relation to as it’s too nebulous and undefined. There would be no cause of action.

 

[supercity88]

Applying that argument, it logically follows that anyone who cannot afford a private education has children that are disadvantaged in education.

It's slightly more nuanced because there is a real issue with services for that demographic in state schools, but it reeks of the lawyers trying to centre their challenge around a more emotive campaign than "it's unfair on the rich kids". The law wouldn't give much thought to whether or not the state system is doing a decent job though. The fact is, the state provides free educational support to those with special educational needs and disabilities so you either pay up or shut up.

 

[meltonblue]

 

[PPT]

This is just the first challenge...