<\/p>\n
\n Anton Lica, of Oxford Builders (AL) Ltd, said he was unfairly hit with a \u00a348,000 penalty over claims he failed to pay \u00a375,000 worth of VAT.\n<\/p>\n
\n The 39-year-old says the dispute is over VAT not charged by his business when he built two new homes in Divinity Road, East Oxford through the Kidlington-based construction firm.\n<\/p>\n
\n Housebuilders in the UK should charge zero per vent VAT on the construction labour and qualifying materials for brand-new residential homes.\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Lica said he has all the documents that prove his innocence and is now going through a High Court battle to clear his business’ name, which he has since had to put into liquidation.\n<\/p>\n
\n He said legal fees have topped \u00a350,000 alone and described the whole situation as being “unfortunate and painful” to deal with.\n<\/p>\n
\n The businessman told this newspaper: “All the tax has been paid up to date \u2013 corporation tax, VAT, CIS, everything. All suppliers and contractors have been paid.\n<\/p>\n
\n “There was one small amount, about \u00a3600, owed to a large company, but they wrote it off because we\u2019d dealt with them since we started.\n<\/p>\n
\n “It was a battle, almost an impossible mission to begin with with the VAT officer but I repeat: tax, corporation tax, everything has been paid.\n<\/p>\n
\n “The dispute was only about one project, at Divinity Road, where we built two new houses on the site.\n<\/p>\n
\n “HMRC treated it as part of the existing house and demanded VAT. We sent them all the planning permissions to show what we\u2019d done.\n<\/p>\n
\n “There were delays because my accountant was seriously ill in hospital; I then moved to a bigger firm who brought in specialist tax advisers.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Even then, it was an almost impossible battle. We went to the High Court.”\n<\/p>\n
\n He said that “as innocent people, let’s fight this and prove our innocence” and took HMRC to court over the penalty the business was given.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Our business was small, essentially a one?man band with subcontractors, but this was my life, and it destroyed it,” he said. “It was extremely stressful.\n<\/p>\n
\n “We were looking at having to spend \u00a350,000 to keep fighting, and you ask yourself, where does it end?\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Government records say tax was not paid between September 2017 to November 2019, March 2020 to November 2020 and March 2023 to May 2023.\n<\/p>\n
\n Documents allege the business failed to pay \u00a375,627 in tax\/duty and in response HMRC issued \u00a348,113.71 worth of penalties to Oxford Builders (AL) Ltd.\n<\/p>\n
\n In April, the business was put into voluntary liquidation, appointing Jane Hardy and Rosalind Mary Hilton, of Adcroft Hilton, as joint liquidators.\n<\/p>\n
\n HMRC said it cannot comment on identifiable businesses due to taxpayer confidentiality law.\n<\/p>\n
\n A spokesman said: “We are committed to tackling those who deliberately default on the tax they owe.\n<\/p>\n
\n “This is key to the government’s wider plan to strengthen the economy and fund the public services we all rely on.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cPublishing the names of deliberate defaulters and their penalties sends a clear message that those who deliberately don\u2019t pay what they owe will face the consequences.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
#HMRC #destroyed #Oxford #housebuilder #incorrect #VAT #dispute<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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