Foreign companies selling UK services

[creampuff]

I can't figure out is hotels.com/Expedia is registered in the UK but I'm guessing no.

I bookedca prepaid room on hotels.com for a stay in Scotland. Now that the stay has happened, I can get a receipt but not a VAT receipt. What is happening?

[StevieBee]

This is not just with hotels but flights, particularly those booked via third parties. Even when I've booked a flight directly with the operator, getting a VAT invoice is not the job of a moment.

Expedia (and it's offshoots) are US companies so you are - I guess - technically buying an imported service where VAT doesn't apply.

Either way, I share your pain!

I tend to use the hotel sites to find a hotel and get a rate...then phone the hotel directly to make the booking. 9 times out of 10 I get the same rate shown on the site.

[KevinCamaroSS]

StevieBee said:

This is not just with hotels but flights, particularly those booked via third parties. Even when I've booked a flight directly with the operator, getting a VAT invoice is not the job of a moment.

Expedia (and it's offshoots) are US companies so you are - I guess - technically buying an imported service where VAT doesn't apply.

Either way, I share your pain!

I tend to use the hotel sites to find a hotel and get a rate...then phone the hotel directly to make the booking. 9 times out of 10 I get the same rate shown on the site.

IIRC there is no VAT on international flights.

[anonymous-user]

when i book it always shows local taxes surely vat is one?

[jamoor]

KevinCamaroSS said:

IIRC there is no VAT on international flights.

Correct

[jammy-git]

I would contact the hotel and ask them to provide you with a VAT receipt/invoice.

[creampuff]

jammy-git said:

I would contact the hotel and ask them to provide you with a VAT receipt/invoice.

Won't work Expedia takes off their commission and remits a lower balance to the hotel.

So for example:

I pre-pay Expedia £140 for the hotel room.
Expedia send hotel £120 and trouser £20 commission.
Hotel only issues VAT receipt for their take, i.e. £100+£20 VAT=£120 leaving the Expedia commission unreceipted.

[anonymous-user]

creampuff said:

Won't work Expedia takes off their commission and remits a lower balance to the hotel.

So for example:

I pre-pay Expedia £140 for the hotel room.
Expedia send hotel £120 and trouser £20 commission.
Hotel only issues VAT receipt for their take, i.e. £100+£20 VAT=£120 leaving the Expedia commission unreceipted.

Won't you get a VAT invoice from the hotel when you check out and a receipt/invoice for the full amount from Expedia?

[anonymous-user]

Covered here. Basically you are buying from a USA company

http://www.accountingweb.co.uk/any-answers/expedia...

[StevieBee]

KevinCamaroSS said:

StevieBee said:

This is not just with hotels but flights, particularly those booked via third parties. Even when I've booked a flight directly with the operator, getting a VAT invoice is not the job of a moment.

Expedia (and it's offshoots) are US companies so you are - I guess - technically buying an imported service where VAT doesn't apply.

Either way, I share your pain!

I tend to use the hotel sites to find a hotel and get a rate...then phone the hotel directly to make the booking. 9 times out of 10 I get the same rate shown on the site.

IIRC there is no VAT on international flights.

VAT isn't the issue. My clients require evidence of travel to recompense the cost which includes the boarding card stub and airline invoice. The fact that I can provide photographic evidence of me traipsing over some third world landfill and that I was physically in meetings with the client in their local office is insufficient. Major pain in the bum!