A college in Oxford has had a £500,000 refund from Customs and Excise thanks to the skill of VAT experts at BDO Stoy Hayward in Southampton . . . even though it made the payment four years ago.

Partner Mike Payne was convinced that St Clare's College, Oxford, had overpaid VAT.

However, the complex nature of education and tax made for a lengthy appeals process.

Mr Payne said: "Despite many difficulties and objections from the commissioners of H M Customs and Excise we were finally able to convince customs that St. Clare's had dramatically overpaid VAT".