- Most responses were in favour of some simplification to existing rules, although a number felt the current rules are understood and work well.
- The majority of responses urged caution over sweeping changes to the current rules: targeted simplification in specific areas was preferred.
- Current difficulties identified included the Option to tax anti-avoidance rules, mixed-use developments and short term arrangements such as conference facilities where is unclear if the supply should be treated as a property letting or as the provision of facilities.
- Suggestions previously Made and discounted by the OTS were rejected by a majority of respondents. These suggestions included removing the option to tax or making all commercial land and property taxable with an option to exempt.
- Most respondents disliked the idea of linking the VAT liability of interests in land to those recorded in land registers.
Suggestions given by respondents for simplifying the existing rules included:
- Reforming the option to tax anti-avoidance legislation.
- Maintaining a real-time accessible public record of land and property which has been opted.
- Shortening the option to tax revocation period to 10 years.
Source: rossmartin.co.uk
