VAT paid to incorrect Dept of HMRC

I am a wine importer and last year my Freight Forwarder made me pay VAT upfront instead of via my VAT account on a Postponed VAT basis. I have a C79 certificate confirming this payment but even after 12 months this money has not been paid into my VAT account. I have spoken to the Annual Accounting VAT section and they say it is up to me to get this other department ( wherever they are) to pay the money over. To whom do I speak? It's causing all sorts of problems.

Hi You would normally use the amounts on your C79 to reclaim the import VAT paid through your VAT return. You would treat it as input tax on the VAT return. There is no mechanism for automatic repayment to your VAT account. Similarly if you used PVA you would account for the VAT on your monthly PVA statements as both input and output VAT on your VAT return.

Hi,

If you have paid the import VAT and the C79 you have received is evidence to justify your claim of input tax on your VAT return, the VAT isn't paid back to you automatically. You would claim this back on your VAT return by including the net import value in box 7 and the VAT amount in box 4.

As the VAT was not claimed during the correct period this will need to be done as an error correction.

How to correct VAT errors and make adjustments or claims (VAT Notice 700/45)

Thank you.