VAT on old stuff sold via EBay

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As part of vacating an old office we have sold old furniture and bits'n'bobs (Leverarch files etc) on Ebay.

We are a VAT registered charity but cannot claim VAT back on our purchases and do not charge VAT on the vast majority of our supplies.

Do we have to treat the income from the sale of old stuff as VAT'able?

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Eric Mc said:

Did you originally reclaim VAT on the items when you bought them.

If you did, you should charge VAT when you sell them.

If you didn't, then you should not need to charge VAT now that they are being sold.

Thanks - that was my guess.

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s2kjock said:

The charity is not trading in second hand goods though.

Correct

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Alpinestars said:

Eric, I think that is broadly right, but I think the sales might be subject to the second hand goods scheme?

OP, if that is the case, you would need to account for VAT only on the margin (broadly sales price less cost), and only if you make a profit on the sale (unlikely?). So you may end up in the same place of no VAT, but for a different technical reason.

That was my logic pretty much. If VATman expects us to charge output tax surely we would be entitled to reclaim input tax, in which case we'd be entitled to a VAT rebate. I've told the Accounts receivable guy to put it through as an exempt supply.