VAT protagonists meet to discuss the future

Representatives behind the two VAT cases met earlier this week to share information on the issue which stands to cost the profession a reported £100m.
Officials from the AOP and ABDO, who back the Leightons/Eye-Tech case, met with FODO, which backs the Specsavers Visionplus case, a month before the cases go to tribunal.
Both sets of legal teams had been Ôvery keenÕ to share their experiences of case preparation and discuss future possibilities in their fight against Customs & ExciseÕs imposition of VAT on dispensing because some of the legal issues in the two cases were similar.
There will still be two cases, which will be heard separately but consecutively before the same chairman in the week beginning November 5.
However, a leading member of the Specsavers team said after the meeting that its case was best placed for next monthÕs hearings.
Director of tax and legal services at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Andrew Young, said: ÔSpecsavers is regarded as a representative appeal. We are providing practical support to the Leightons case. For instance, weÕve agreed to provide their legal team with legal authorities.Õ
He expected the two legal teams to remain in close contact during final preparations.
There was no comment from the optical bodies as optician went to press. However, a joint statement is expected during October.