Background Note
8.The exemption reduces a barrier that might prevent businesses and organisations that have exempt and/or non-business activities for VAT purposes from joining with others to share costs...
9.Businesses and organisations that have exempt and/or non-business supplies are not able to reclaim the VAT they incur on their purchases that relate to such supplies (irrecoverable VAT). If they co-operate by forming a group to provide them with services necessary to their exempt/non-business activity they would normally pay VAT on the supply of those services. This exemption relieves such supplies from VAT but only where the services are supplied by the group to group members at cost and only if relief from VAT does not itself distort competition.
10.The exemption is defined in broad and general terms in the PVD and this is reflected in the section. HMRC will develop detailed guidance in consultation with taxpayers in order to provide a clear framework within which the exemption can operate effectively and to the benefit of taxpayers whilst ensuring the scope for avoidance or abuse is limited.
11.The exemption will benefit all sectors undertaking exempt and/or non-business activities including charities, universities, further education colleges, banks, housing associations and insurance businesses.