Independent schools have been unable to register for VAT online because of an incompetent HM Revenue & Customs website.

Those logging on must enter a ‘company number’ to register, but because they are charities they don’t have one.

An HMRC advisor admitted to an accountant working for a school: “We don’t seem to have the systems in place to facilitate what we are requesting fee paying schools to do.”

HMRC stated it has now issued training to its advisors and that those registering online should now do so as a ‘charitable incorporated organisation’.

Independent Schools’ Bursars Association’s chief executive David Woodgate said: “It is not too late for the government to make a rational, pragmatic decision to defer implementation until next September, in the best interests both of schools and HMRC who clearly need more time to get their systems and processes up to speed and enable finance teams in schools to comply with the new regulations.”