£1m VAT victory

By Robin Stride

A consultant dermatologist has been saved from a crippling £1m-plus tax bill after his accountant – an Independent Practitioner Today columnist – settled a VAT case out of court.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) contended that the specialist’s company should have registered for the tax, as the business was largely providing ‘cosmetic’ procedures as opposed to procedures for medical purposes.