Guides

Everything you need to do this yourself, free. If it saves you using us, that's a fair outcome.

How long you have to claim self-build VAT

Six months from completion for builds finished on or after 5 December 2023 — three months before that. One claim only, and no going back.

4 min read

What makes an invoice acceptable to HMRC

The four things every invoice needs for a DIY Housebuilders' Scheme claim, why the VAT number is the most common omission, and how to get a defective one reissued.

5 min read

Invoices in your builder's name aren't always lost

Materials bought on a tradesman's account don't automatically fall out of your VAT claim. HMRC's guidance contemplates genuine agency arrangements — here's what that means.

4 min read

Delivery, haulage and why the paperwork matters

TO WRITE Hold until specialist review — this one needs sign-off before publishing.

Ten things people wrongly think they can claim

TO WRITE Strong search traffic, easy to write.

Zero-rating: what your builder should never have charged you

TO WRITE Hold until specialist review.