Through the lens: Complex VAT rules for optical practices

The complex and confusing nature of VAT in general often encourages many businesses to sweep it under the rug, hoping they will not find themselves caught out by an unexpected inspection from HMRC. Optical practices are no exception to this, but failure to comply with VAT legislation can prove costly, and put future business operations in jeopardy.

Like many other types of business, optical practices often find themselves struggling to access information and guidance when it comes to navigating the concept of VAT, which does not help them to easily understand the amount of VAT they actually have to pay, and any reliefs they are entitled to. In this guide, we will put the spotlight on VAT for practices, explaining the complex rules, while offering advice on how to carry out VAT calculations.