Retailer VAT receipt after the fact

Pop over to BoxesRUs and buy some storage boxes, say £50. Pay with the company debit card and return to the office. Check the receipt and see it's just a till receipt so insufficient for VAT purposes. Contact customer services to be told "You should have asked when you made the purchase. Can't help you, go away". So ... 1) Is the retailer breaking HMRC rules by being "unable" to help? 2) If I'd identified myself as a VAT registered business, would customer service have to have been helpful? 3) What class do you record the transaction for VAT purposes?

Hi JustPuzzled AsAlways,
If a VAT registered business makes a sale to another VAT registered business then a VAT must be issued.
Please see the guidance below which details the information which a VAT invoice should show.
16.1 Introduction to VAT invoices
If you look at section 16.6 of the same guidance it will show the details required to be shown on a simplified invoioce for sales below £250
This will be a third party dispute between yourself and the retailer but you are within your rights to request a VAT invoice so that you can treat the VAT paid as your input tax.
Thank you.

Yes, it's all well and good knowing what the retailer should do, but when you get a "there's nothing we can do" response, there's little to be gained picking a fight over a few pounds. So how does one record such an event? Goods weren't exempt or zero rated. Shouldn't really record the transaction as standard rate as one has no receipt to back up the claim.

Hi JustPuzzled AsAlways,
Please refer to VAT Notice 700 section 19.6.2.
19. Records and accounts
If the items bought are standard rated at 20% then they should be recorded as such in your accounts, however if you do not hold the appropriate evidence for reclaiming VAT as input tax then you should ensure it is recorded as non-deductible so that it is not included in box 4 on your VAT return.
Your software provider should be able to provide guidance on how to do this.
Thank you.