Why can't UK universities and companies issue invoices to their students? Thread poster: Pro-Trans
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Pro-Trans
France
Local time: 23:46
English to French
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Hello,
In 2008, I attended a distance course with a University in the UK. I needed an invoice to include this course into my professional expenses but when I asked them to send me an invoice, they replied: "I regret the University doesn't issue invoices for short courses."
I am a bit amazed because I paid for this course and when you pay for something, you can expect to get an invoice... This attitude doesn't seem very professional to me.
This course cost me seve... See more Hello,
In 2008, I attended a distance course with a University in the UK. I needed an invoice to include this course into my professional expenses but when I asked them to send me an invoice, they replied: "I regret the University doesn't issue invoices for short courses."
I am a bit amazed because I paid for this course and when you pay for something, you can expect to get an invoice... This attitude doesn't seem very professional to me.
This course cost me several hundred pounds and it would be very annoying if I was not able to include this expense into my professional training expenses.
The same happened with a British company which sent me some reference materials with no invoice... In France, getting an invoice is not such a problem!
Do translators and interpreters in the UK often encounter the same problem?
Do you know WHY companies and Universities in the UK don't want to send invoices?
Thanks! ▲ Collapse
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Angela Dickson (X) 
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:46
French to English
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Perhaps you might have better results if you ask for a receipt, which is the standard name in the UK for a document that provides proof that you have paid for something.
They could issue you with an invoice, but how could you show that you actually paid it?
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| Invoice or receipt? | Jan 6, 2009 |
It would surprise me if they had not already sent you something asking to be paid... and that would be the invoice. By the way, I rarely receive an invoice for most things I purchase (e.g., in a supermarket).
I also cannot imagine that they would not send you a receipt for the money they received if you already paid, whereby even that is probably superfluous if you transferred the money via your bank account, as that would usually provide enough proof that you have paid.
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Pro-Trans
France
Local time: 23:46
English to French
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TOPIC STARTER
Great, thanks for your help Angela and Derek!
I asked them for a receipt and it worked. The problem is that VAT (if there is any) won't be broken down but at they are abroad, it should be ok for my accountant.
I am used to asking for invoices instead of receipts because of the VAT problem. Some shops don't break down VAT ontheir receipts and some do. With invoices, I am sure that the VAT amount is separated from the amount exclusive of VAT.
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Angela Dickson (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:46
French to English
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In the UK a 'VAT receipt' is a separate concept, and you should be asking for one of those if you need a VAT breakdown - as you say, though, you don't.
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Tatty
Local time: 23:46
Spanish to English
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| Encountered the same problem | Jan 7, 2009 |
I'm studying a degree via distance learning and I've experienced the same problem. All they can provide me with is a "formal receipt" but they have managed to add my VAT number this time, a previous distance-learning course provider couldn't so I'm just hoping that I won't get an inspection. It is a problem when the British company simply refuses to add your tax number (no can do), even handwritten.
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RobinB
United States
Local time: 16:46
German to English
| Probably no VAT | Jan 7, 2009 |
Pro-Trans wrote:
I asked them for a receipt and it worked. The problem is that VAT (if there is any) won't be broken down but at they are abroad, it should be ok for my accountant.
Course fees at many (possibly most) public educational establishments in the UK are VAT-exempt, so the universities don't generally charge VAT on things like CPD courses. But there will always be exceptions, I suppose.
Robin
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Tatty
Local time: 23:46
Spanish to English
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| Not subject to VAT | Jan 9, 2009 |
No, uni courses are not subject to VAT but I can reduce my income tax base by their price as long as the document of proof meets national accounting requirements which may be the case if the institution can include my tax number. But we shouldn't be put in this predicament.
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