Invoice excluded VAT

Q: I ordered two doors from a local woodwork company and was given an invoice with a description of the order as well as the total price for each door. The invoice also included the total amount for both doors, the amount of deposit paid, and the outstanding balance to be paid upon delivery.

When the doors were installed on the agreed delivery date, I paid the amount still due and asked for a VAT receipt. I was then informed that the price quoted to me, and also written on the invoice, did not include VAT and that if I wanted a fiscal receipt, I had to pay more.

I had never asked for a quote that did not include VAT and I was never informed that the price quoted on the invoice excluded VAT.

Does the company have a right to ask for more money to issue a VAT receipt? What should I do?

A: First of all, this company is acting illegally by issuing invoices and quoting prices that are not VAT inclusive.

Furthermore, sellers and retailers are legally obliged to issue a fiscal receipt for each and every sale they make. This legal obligation falls under the VAT Department, where consumers may report companies that do not issue fiscal receipts.

However, you said that on the invoice it was written that VAT was not included in the quote. Therefore, you were actually informed that the price quoted did not include VAT.

It is your responsibility, as a consumer, to carefully read such documents so that if there is anything you do not like or is not as you agreed with the seller you may discuss these before the contract is concluded.

In this case, you would have asked for the price inclusive of VAT, and if it was not OK for you, then you could have chosen not to proceed with the sale.

It is in our own interest that to be given a fiscal receipt or some other document verifying that payment has been made.

A receipt unambiguously indicates what has been purchased, from where and at what price. Hence, it facilitates complaints over defects and non-conformity with the contract of sale, as it can prove that consumers are still within the stipulated time limit to complain and obtain a free solution.