Terms

Terms for businesses using MarginVAT

These are the terms for using the MarginVAT app for Shopify. We've kept them short and in plain English. Last updated 14 October 2026.

1. Who we are, and agreeing to these terms

MarginVAT is a trading name of L. Broad, a sole trader in the United Kingdom ("we", "us"). Contact us at support@marginvat.com.

These terms are an agreement between us and the business that installs MarginVAT ("you"). By installing or using MarginVAT, you accept them for your business, and you confirm you're allowed to do that. If you don't accept them, please don't install MarginVAT, or uninstall it. MarginVAT is for businesses, not consumers.

2. What MarginVAT does

MarginVAT helps businesses that sell second-hand goods, works of art, antiques and collectors' items through Shopify use the VAT margin scheme. It:

  • keeps a stock book of the items you buy;
  • works out the VAT on the margin of each sale;
  • issues margin scheme invoices and credit notes;
  • gives you the figures for your VAT return.

3. What MarginVAT doesn't do: please read

  • It isn't tax advice. MarginVAT applies HMRC's published rules to the information you give it. Whether you can use the margin scheme, and how, is your decision. If you're unsure, ask an accountant.
  • You file your own VAT returns. MarginVAT doesn't send anything to HMRC or any other tax authority. You're responsible for what you file, for checking the figures before you file them, and for keeping records for as long as the law requires (6 years in the UK).
  • The figures depend on what goes in. They come from what you enter (purchase prices, dates, the kind of item, whether it was imported or is zero-rated) and from your Shopify settings. Please check them.
  • Your Shopify settings are yours. MarginVAT explains the settings you need, such as prices that include VAT and a 0% tax override for margin goods, but you make those changes yourself.

4. Using MarginVAT

  • We own MarginVAT and everything in it. While it's installed, you may use it for your own business. You can't copy, resell or reverse-engineer it.
  • Your records stay yours. You allow us to use them only to provide MarginVAT to you.
  • You use MarginVAT through your Shopify store, so keep your Shopify login secure. You're responsible for anyone who uses MarginVAT through your store.
  • Please don't misuse MarginVAT: for example, by trying to reach other shops' data, interfering with the service, or using it for anything unlawful.
  • Shopify isn't a party to these terms and isn't responsible for MarginVAT.

5. Plans and fees

  • Our plans and prices are the ones shown on our Shopify App Store listing and on Shopify's plan page in the app, which include a free plan. Shopify bills you for us, on your Shopify bill, and Shopify's billing terms apply. Prices don't include any tax that Shopify adds.
  • The Free plan covers 10 margin scheme sales a month. If you go over, invoices keep being issued so your buyers always get theirs. Only the VAT return figures and exports pause until you upgrade or the next month starts.
  • You can change or cancel your plan at any time on Shopify's plan page in the app.
  • We'll tell you at least 30 days before a price change for your plan takes effect, so you can change plan or uninstall first.
  • Fees already charged aren't refundable, except where the law or Shopify's policies say otherwise.

6. Your data

  • Our privacy policy explains what we collect and why.
  • For your customers' personal data (such as their names and billing addresses on invoices), you're the controller and we process it for you under our data processing agreement, which forms part of these terms.
  • You can download your stock book and VAT figures at any time.
  • When you uninstall MarginVAT, Shopify tells us, and 48 hours later we delete your shop's data, unless you've reinstalled by then. Download what you need before you uninstall.

7. Our promises

  • We'll provide MarginVAT with reasonable skill and care.
  • If you find an error in MarginVAT's calculations or documents, tell us. We'll fix it as quickly as we reasonably can, at no charge.
  • We work to keep MarginVAT available, but we can't promise it will always be uninterrupted or free of errors.
  • We may improve or change features. If a change takes away something your plan includes, we'll tell you in advance.
  • Apart from what these terms say, MarginVAT is provided as it is, as far as the law allows.

8. Liability

  • Nothing in these terms limits liability that the law doesn't allow to be limited, such as for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.
  • We're not liable for indirect or consequential loss, or for loss of profit, revenue, business or goodwill.
  • The VAT and other tax you owe is always yours, because it comes from your own sales and filings (section 3). If an error in MarginVAT's own calculations leads to interest or a penalty, our liability for it is limited as below.
  • Otherwise, our total liability for all claims in any 12 months is limited to the fees you paid us in the 12 months before the event that caused the claim, or £100 if that's more.

9. Suspending and ending

  • You can stop at any time by uninstalling MarginVAT.
  • We may suspend access if we need to, to protect the service, other users or your data. We'll tell you why, and restore access as soon as we can.
  • We can end these terms by giving you 30 days' notice, or straight away if you seriously break them. Unless the law stops us, we'll keep your records available to download for 30 days after we end them.
  • Sections 3, 6, 8 and 11 still apply after the end.

10. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms. We'll tell you about important changes in the app or by email at least 30 days before they apply. If you keep using MarginVAT after that, the new terms apply. If you don't agree with them, you can uninstall MarginVAT before they apply.

11. General

  • The whole agreement: these terms, the data processing agreement and the privacy policy are the whole agreement between us about MarginVAT.
  • Transfer: we may transfer these terms to a company we set up to run MarginVAT, or to someone who buys the business, and we'll tell you if we do. Your rights under them won't be reduced. You need our agreement to transfer them.
  • Events beyond our control: we're not responsible for delays or failures caused by events we couldn't reasonably control, such as a Shopify or hosting outage.
  • Notices: we'll contact you through the app or at your store's contact email. You can contact us at support@marginvat.com.
  • No one else: only you and we can enforce these terms.
  • If part fails: if part of these terms can't be enforced, the rest still applies.
  • Disputes: please talk to us first, and we'll try to sort it out. These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction.