CaSE Briefing – VAT

A briefing outlining three issues that CaSE has been made aware of during conversations with the science and engineering community.

Summary of policy concerns highlighted by these issues:

1. There is general confusion within the research community and their finance offices on how to interpret VAT rules. This may be leading to an over-cautious approach to classification within finance offices, which may be wasting money.
2. There are increased costs and perverse incentives discouraging academia-industry research collaboration and co-location, which runs contrary to the aims of the Science and Innovation Strategy to promote growth-friendly innovation through collaboration.
3. There is increased bureaucracy and inefficient accounting systems resulting in poor use of public money.