Microsoft Charge Taxes (VAT) but refuse to give a VAT invoice on payment of renewal

I downloaded Explorer specifically to get a VAT/GST receipt after reading these instructions. There was absolutely nothing different using the Explorer browser to using Chrome. There was no tax invoice button under details all I could get was an invoice with the amount of GST but no registration number for Microsoft making it useless.

I just tried that, it did not work.

Microsoft do not provide VAT invoices, that is established. 

A VAT invoice might be available to a customer if you follow a procedure, using only certain software, although previous posts indicate that what one receives for putting in the work for Microsoft might not meet HMRC requirements. 

I believe that  Microsoft are missing the point. Customers want VAT invoices. Microsoft do not want to provide them. This is very poor customer service, but obviously Microsoft do not care.

As a monopolist provider they can get away with poor service, at least for the present.

The way to make this customer happy is simple: just provide VAT invoices. Do not tell customers to go find them. We are all busy with our work and have told you what we want from you.

Just give us the VAT invoice each time. That’s it. 

John Fenton

John,

Microsoft DO provide VAT invoices for Business Office 365 subscriptions - as standard. What they don't do is provide VAT invoices for Personal/Home/Student Office 365 subscriptions - it's unlikely they will as these subscriptions aren't permitted for commercial use and it seems an unlikely scenario for a non-commercial entity to require a VAT invoice. 

Also Microsoft don't have a monopoly in this space, not even close. Zoho Cloud, Google Apps and many other providers are competing directly.

You want VAT invoices - use a business Office 365 subscription and get them as standard - no tricks - all business Office 365 invoices are VAT invoices. 

Mikey O'Toole

I don't work for Microsoft - I run a company which has Microsoft Partner status. The information provided is correct to the best of my knowledge but I make no guarantees as to it's accuracy.

Microsoft do not provide VAT invoices, that is established. 

A VAT invoice might be available to a customer if you follow a procedure, using only certain software, although previous posts indicate that what one receives for putting in the work for Microsoft might not meet HMRC requirements. 

I believe that  Microsoft are missing the point. Customers want VAT invoices. Microsoft do not want to provide them. This is very poor customer service, but obviously Microsoft do not care.

As a monopolist provider they can get away with poor service, at least for the present.

The way to make this customer happy is simple: just provide VAT invoices. Do not tell customers to go find them. We are all busy with our work and have told you what we want from you.

Just give us the VAT invoice each time. That’s it. 

John Fenton