Legislation states that VAT is charged on taxable supplies made in the normal course of your business. Some argue that selling fixed assets, such as furniture, is outside the normal course of business and is not vatable.

I don’t agree with this argument and advise charging the tax on the sale of all company assets. The purchase of assets used to generate taxable sales are part of most businesses’ normal activities. When you purchase the new office furniture you will be charged VAT on the purchase, which you can recover in full against your output VAT on taxable sales. It makes sense therefore that if you can recover VAT on a purchase of assets, you should then charge VAT on a subsequent sale of the same item.