VAT & 'Take it Away' Instrument Purchase Schemes
This page details two options which may be helpful if you intend to buy an instrument. If you're interested in hiring an instrument, please visit our Hire an Instrument page
VAT Purchase Scheme
The aim of the Scheme is to enable the pupils of Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council to purchase musical instruments that are essential to the furtherance of their musical studies at a reduced price. This can be achieved by a concession, which enables the local authority to recover the VAT on such instruments and to sell the instrument free of VAT to the pupil.
The conditions that must be observed are as follows;
- The sale of the instrument is made to pupils receiving tuition from the local authority (see note below ).
- The instrument is required as part of normal curricular studies and these studies are expected to continue for a minimum of 2 school terms.
Pupils receiving tuition from the local authority:
If the pupil plays the instrument at an LM Band, Orchestra or other music performance groups including an Area Centre
OR
If the pupil receives weekly lessons on the instrument provided by either a teacher of a Local Authority school or the parent pays the local authority school for lessons.
If the lessons are paid direct to the Associate Teacher, private teacher of a member of staff employed by the Academy the pupil is not receiving tuition from the local authority.
Before completing an application form, please ensure that you have read and understood our Fair Processing Notice.
VAT Purchase Scheme Application Form (MS Word, 86 Kb)
Applications:
Headteachers, or their authorised representatives, will be responsible for ensuring that the application form is completed at Parts 1 and 2 by the appropriate person and that information regarding the tuition is accurate. Completed forms should be forwarded to the VAT Liaison Officer at County Hall for authorisation prior to any further action being undertaken. (Note: this is the case even for City Council pupils – see further note below).
NB: If the application is for an instrument that a pupil plays in an LM band or orchestra, the completed form should be sent to LM in the first instance. Please scan a copy and send to music@leics.gov.uk. (Posted copies can be sent to Leicestershire Music, Leicestershire County Council, Room G10, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8RA - please notify us by email to music@leics.gov.uk that you have posted a form).
When the form is authorised it will be sent to Leicestershire Music and they will issue an official order to the retailer. The retailer will invoice Leicestershire Music who will pay the invoice through the Local Authority Budget. Parents/carers will send a cheque payable to Leicestershire County Council before the instrument is received to Leicestershire Music for the amount charged by the retailer (exclusive of VAT) plus £45.00 (Administration Charge).
City Council Pupils:
The arrangements for City Council pupils may be slightly different in that the VAT Liaison Officer will identify appropriate cases and forward the authorised Form to the City Council VAT and Taxation Advice Office. The latter will confirm the details and pass the Form to the City Council's Education Department who will carry out the steps otherwise undertaken by Leicestershire Music. The parents/carers cheque in such cases should be made payable to Leicester City Council and sent to the Education Department, Marlborough House, Leicester. Parents / Carers will be advised if these alternative arrangements apply.
UNAUTHORISED USE OF THE CONCESSION MAY RESULT IN THE PARENT BEING LIABLE TO REPAY THE VAT
This Scheme will be administered jointly by the Business Manager of the Leicestershire Music and the VAT Liaison Officer in conjunction with the City Council VAT and Taxation Advice Office. Any disputes or disagreements arising from any applications will be dealt with by these persons or their representatives.
Any arrangement for the Parents / Carers to take away the instrument, before the form is authorised, is strictly a private arrangement between Parents / Carers and retailer. Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester City Council accept no responsibility for any loss arising from this arrangement.
'Take it Away' Purchase Scheme
Take it away aims to make musical instruments more accessible to children and young people by providing interest-free loans of up to £5,000. Find out how it works and what you can buy by clicking on the link below.
