Frequently Asked Questions Introduction of VAT on School Fees 10 October 2024
All of the answers outlined were correct at the time of publication.
What if the Government doesn’t go ahead with VAT in January 2025?
We expect that the legislation about the introduction of VAT on school fees from January 2025 will be included in the Chancellor’s Budget in October and there are very strong indications that this will go ahead. We wanted to share our plan with our trusted partners at the earliest opportunity, to support financial planning and in the interest of clarity and openness with agents and parents Should the government’s planned introduction of this tax on school fees change, then we will contact you as soon as we can to update you.
How can I help the College?
We are open to ideas in any area of the school If you are able to offer insight or expert knowledge that can help us to plan for the future, we want to hear from you
The College has seen growth in student numbers over the past ten years We must ensure that the student numbers remain strong, and you can help by continuing with your support and encouraging others to be part of our community.
How will this affect Military families?
The Government has not, at this stage, confirmed whether VAT will be applied for military families We are seeking clarification on this and will update you as soon as we can
My child has special educational needs, will VAT be payable?
Fees for SEN pupils will be subject to VAT unless the pupil is placed by the Local Authority, who can recover the VAT. If parents choose to send a SEN pupil to an independent school, where their needs could be met by the state sector, VAT will be chargeable
Will VAT apply to the costs of Trips and Visits?
We are awaiting further clarification on this from the government
Will VAT be applied on our Boarding fees?
Boarding fees will be liable for VAT charges. Page 1 of 3
What about fees in advance?
The government introduced forestalling measures to prevent payment of fees in advance as a means of avoiding the VAT charge for any fees paid after 29 July 2024 If you had paid fees in advance specifically related to defined periods for education services ahead of this date, you will not receive an additional invoice
The College continues to offer a Fees in Advance Scheme, please contact billing@stjos.co.uk for further assistance
Will this affect the quality of provision?
Our firm intention is to ensure we do not compromise on the quality of the education provided at this College
Will the College stop spending money on capital projects?
No, as evidenced by the current work we are carrying out refurbishing the Sixth Form Centre, and our capital plan going forward, which includes work upgrading our Science block
What will a parent’s invoice look like in January 2025?
Please find below an illustration of how fees will look in January 2025 for students in different year groups.
Year 7-8 Pupil (Full Boarding)
Invoice
Year 9-13 Pupil (Full Boarding)
Will VAT affect agent commission?
VAT will not affect the agent's commission, as the school can only pay commission based on the actual fees received The VAT portion of the fees is not commissionable