Taxtixs - RPGCC's Talk to us podcast series

In this our September episode we talk about navigating VAT with insights from recent Tribunal Cases - exploring the nuances of VAT treatment in food and business cases.

In this edition of TaxTixs, we delve into some recent tribunal cases that highlight the complexities of VAT treatment, especially regarding food and new products. Join Kelly Power and Tim Humphries as they unpack the implications of these cases for businesses and consumers alike.

Collagen Shots and VAT Classification

A recent tribunal case has sparked a discussion around the VAT treatment of collagen shots, a product increasingly marketed for its anti-aging benefits. Minerva Research Labs argued that their collagen drink should be zero-rated as a food item. However, HMRC contended that it was a cosmetic product, which led to the tribunal ruling against zero-rating. This case underscores the importance of how products are marketed:

"When you're looking at the VAT treatment...it's really important to think about how you're marketing the goods." — Kelly Power

The tribunal concluded that despite the drink's nutritional content, its primary purpose as a cosmetic disqualified it from zero-rating. This case serves as a reminder to businesses that the classification of their products can significantly impact VAT obligations.

A cautionary tale of under-declared VAT

In another intriguing case, a taxpayer faced a personal liability notice for under-declaring VAT on sales amounting to £18 million. The HMRC's investigation revealed that while the taxpayer's company had declared only 455 invoices, the customer had claimed VAT on 962 invoices during the same period.

Tim raises an important point about the implications of this case:

"It's a warning to people who think they're being clever..." — Tim

The tribunal determined that the taxpayer's behavior suggested deliberate negligence, leading to personal liability despite the company being in liquidation. This case highlights the critical importance of accurate VAT reporting and the potential repercussions of failing to comply.

Key Takeaways

- The classification of products for VAT purposes can hinge on marketing strategies, not just ingredients or nutritional content.

- Businesses should be vigilant in their VAT reporting, as discrepancies can lead to severe consequences, including personal liability for directors.

As the landscape of VAT regulations continues to evolve, staying informed and compliant is crucial for all businesses. For those interested in learning more about these cases and their implications, we invite you to listen to the full episode of TaxTixs.

In this our August issue of RPGCC's Taxtixs podcast, Kelly Power and Tim Humphries take a look at the upcoming Autumn Budget under a new Prime Minister and Chancellor, the lastest on VAT and the latest tax rulings and tax cases that have made the industry press recently. Join us for this whistlestop tour of the latest on all things tax and vat.

In this edition of RPGCC's Taxtixs podcast our VAT Partner, Kelly Power and our Head of Tax, Tim Huphries talk about what it is like to be a tax and VAT adviser in 2026. What is it like dealing with HMRC today? How do tax advisers like us work to balance client expectation with HMRC reality?

How do HMRC apply tax legislation, are there instances where tax experts know more than HMRC officers?

How long can you expect to wait for HMR to reply to your queries?

How long can you expect the Department of Work and pensions to respond to a National Insurane query?

Is 15 months an acceptable timeframe if you are waiting to retire and wish to enquiry about your state pension?

Should we all be like Tim and be contacting our MP and advising of our concerns over 15 month reply timeframes?

How long can you expect HMRC to take to respond to a VAT enquiry?

Do all VAT enquiries need to be dealt with in person or should HMRC be adapting their approach?

What are HMRC doing to deal with customer demand, have you seen their social media recruitment campaigns?

So many questions, do Tim and Kelly have all the answers?In this our May edition of TaxTixs, Kelly and Tim discuss all of the above. Let us know what you think!

Kelly Power our VAT partner is joined by Matt King, who heads up our wealth management team in this April issue of Taxtixs.

Matt is going to be talking us through the scenario where you've generated your wealth either through your business or employment and so now how best to invest that to get the best returns and with the start of a new tax year it feels like a great time to be addressing these issues and questions. In this session we take a look at ISAs, Pensions, Inheritance Tax, Lifetime gifts, Bonds and other tax efficient ways of investing to improve your personal wealth.

If you would like to discuss anything covered in this session of TaxTixs, please contact us on 020 7870 9050 or email us at [email protected] where a member of our team is waiting to help.

IMPORTANT REGULATORY INFORMATIONRPGCC Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA under registration number 948183 with the Registered Company Number 13010513. Registered office is 40 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0BT. RPG Crouch Chapman Financial Services Limited is related to RPG Crouch Chapman LLP. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) do not regulate tax planning services. The Financial Ombudsman Service is available to sort out individual complaints that clients and financial services businesses have not been able to resolve themselves. To contact the Financial Ombudsman Service please visit www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.It is important to remember that the value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you originally invested and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.The guidance and/or advice contained within this content is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at consumers based in the UK.

Welcome to the March Episode of TaxTixs the RPGCC London Accountants, Auditors and Tax Advisers podcast covering the latest cases and developments in the world of accounting and tax.

In this episode our tax and VAT team take a look at the VAT on commercial electric car charging, Making Tax Digital for self-employed and landlords alongside the latest developments in the Dan Niedel case.

Welcome to the RPGCC Podcast for February 2026.

This month, Taxtixs takes on an international focus as we explore some of the cross-border tax developments and global trends that businesses and individuals cannot afford to ignore.

At RPGCC, we are a team of personal tax, corporate tax and VAT specialists, bringing together practical insight and real-world experience to help you stay ahead of the ever-changing tax landscape.

In this episode, we unpack:

• Section 889 tax and what it could mean for affected businesses

• The implications of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” and wider international policy shifts

• Key considerations when taking your business overseas

• Developments in VAT and carbonisation, and how environmental policy is increasingly intersecting with indirect tax

As international regulation tightens and tax transparency increases, understanding the global dimension of tax planning has never been more important.

Whether you’re running a growing business, managing your personal tax affairs, or simply want to understand what’s changing and why, this is the place for informed discussion, expert perspective and practical takeaways.

Join the RPGCC team as we talk tax, VAT and everything in between.

Welcome to the RPGCC podcast for January 2026.
We’re a team of personal tax, corporate tax and VAT specialists, bringing together practical insight and real‑world experience to help you stay ahead of the ever‑changing tax landscape. In this episode, we break down the latest developments in tax and VAT, explore what they mean for SMEs, owner‑managed businesses and private clients, and share clear, jargon‑free guidance you can actually use.

Whether you’re running a growing business, managing your personal tax affairs, or just want to understand what’s changing and why, this is the place for informed discussion, expert perspective and practical takeaways.

Join the RPGCC team as we talk tax, VAT and everything in between.