Important changes to claiming criminal cases

On this page:

VAT
Cost of travel
For more information

VAT

All figures on your CDS6 (whether online, bulk-load or paper submission) should be reported exclusive of VAT.

Each line will include a new VAT indicator field where you can indicate:

eligibility to claim VAT
the case in question properly attracts VAT.

There is a field where the value of VAT on disbursements can be stipulated. This allows for the fact that not all disbursements attract VAT.

It has been noted that following the introduction of Version 8 of the CDS7 claim form, many firms have copied the total costs of travel, waiting and profit costs direct from pages 4 and 5 of the CDS7 to page 1. As the figures on pages 4 and 5 are exclusive of VAT, this results in a firm not claiming for VAT on their non-standard claims. Disbursements are not affected, as the form already allows for this breakdown. All figures on page 1 should be inclusive of VAT.

Cost of travel

From 14 Jul 08 there is no contractual requirement to report the cost of travel for:

police station fixed fee
magistrates’ court standard fee claims.

The requirement to report the cost of waiting remains.

Where you are claiming an exceptional case fee for police station work you may still include these costs in your calculation to work out whether the relevant threshold is exceeded.

Those submitting their CDS6 through the bulk-load or online will need to enter £0 in the appropriate field to prevent the line being rejected by our system.

For further information regarding either of the above changes, please see the revised CDS6 guidance document under CDS Forms, or contact your Account Manager.

For more information

Visit the CDS>Pay rates and schemes pages for details of the fee schemes.

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Last updated: 09 February 2010