Pictured: Nick Bullen

Leading accountancy firm Whitley Stimpson is warning new companies to be aware of a new EU Vat Registration scam. Letters are currently making the rounds and are usually addressed to a company's registered office from the 'Intracom VAT Registry' in Belgium.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have been aware of this new letter scam, which is being sent to newly incorporated companies by post. This letter is requesting payment of a fixed fee of £320 via credit card. A website address is provided within the letter to 'activate' the EU VAT registration. These letters are not issued by HMRC and the registration should not be completed.  

Nick Bullen, Partner at Whitley Stimpson explains: "We incorporated a company earlier this month and a fraudulent letter arrived at our office, being the registered office address, last week. We have advised HMRC and are informing our clients when sending them incorporation documentation that they may receive fraudulent 'EU VAT registration' paperwork requesting money to register for VAT. The message is clear - this is a scam and no fees should be paid. It's a sophisticated kind of VAT fraud, which involves straightforward theft of money from newly registered companies."

For further information or for specialist accountancy advice, please contact Nick Bullen on nickb@whitleystimpson.co.uk or 01295 270200.