Why is Sky so secretive about whether they charge VAT as part of their services?

[Hartfield]

I am struggling to find and answer to a simple question and that is whether there is a VAT element on Sky TV invoices. Sky support staff doesn't seem to know either!

Does anyone know whether TV service has 20% VAT?

[Mark39 · Accepted solution]

Yes.prices include VAT.

[caesarome]

All prices include VAT but VAT itself is not shown separately on our bills as Sky is for domestic customers only. No idea if it is shown if you are a Sky Business customer.

[TimmyBGood]

@Hartfield 

For billing with VAT listed separately you'd need to subscribe to a Sky service (business broadband or hospitality television) where that's normal practice.

If you are resident offshore in a UK territory with different tax arrangements then you'll need to contact Sky directly : previous posts have indicated mixed success.

[Hartfield]

That's great, thank you all.

We have a domestic account but it is used at a business so ideally need a VAT invoice.

[GD1]

@Hartfield   Then for VAT you need a Business service not a domestic one.

[SKY1992bf]

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@Hartfield wrote:

That's great, thank you all.

We have a domestic account but it is used at a business so ideally need a VAT invoice.

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@Hartfield  Then you need a business account and pay the appropriate ( potentially higher) prices sky won't provide vat invoices on a domestic contract under any circumstances

[PandJ2020]

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@Hartfield wrote:

We have a domestic account but it is used at a business so ideally need a VAT invoice.

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Which is in breach of 6.3 of your contract... 

"You agree to use your TV services and the viewing card for your household’s own private domestic
enjoyment and not for any commercial or business purpose. "

Asking Sky for a VAT invoice may raise some questions.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Hartfield wrote:

We have a domestic account but it is used at a business so ideally need a VAT invoice.

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You can choose to use domestic broadband for business purposes, but Sky won't provide a VAT invoice or any additional priority for support.  There's a dedicated business broadband product range from Sky at very similar pricing which will have appropriate billing for tax returns.

https://business.sky.com/products-and-services/business-broadband/ 

Using domestic Sky television for business purposes is taken seriously though, because that puts Sky in breach of their own contracts with rights owners, and ultimately they can choose to prosecute, particularly where Sports content is used in a hospitality business without the appropriate (and very expensive) commercial subscription.

https://skyforbusiness.sky.com/sb/portal/business/uk/for_business 

[Hartfield]

Thank you.

The TV is used for private use even though it's a business. e.g. in an office

[TimmyBGood]

@Hartfield 

Unfortunately that then potentially gets complicated with both Sky contract terms and PRS/PPL licencing.

Using a Sky television subscription to show a channel which is in any way related to the nature of the business (news, share prices etc) almost certainly moves it to businesses use, and entertaining viewers outside a family or household group is technically hospitality use.

For a single viewer and entertainment only a domestic subscription might be considered OK, but I suspect you're not going to be able to claim tax relief for that.

[PandJ2020]

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@Hartfield wrote:

The TV is used for private use even though it's a business. e.g. in an office

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You can't have it both ways...  (There's no 'personal business' use)

[Hartfield]

Ok, thanks