Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme

What is the Assisted Instrument Purcahse Scheme (AIPS)?

AIPS allows LEA (local education authority) schools to buy an instrument on behalf of the student without paying VAT. The school then sells the instrument on to the student at the reduced rate. 

What are the restrictions?

The student must be in full time education at a LEA school.

The student must receive tuition at the school. 

The instrument must be portable.

The instrument must be handed over in the school's music room.

The school must sell on the instrument at or below cost.

An Example

Tim takes saxophone lessons at his LEA school. He see's a saxophone at Karacha and wants his parents to buy it for him. The saxophone is on sale at £199. Tim's parents speak to the school or music teacher about AIPS. The school then places the order on tim's behalf. The school is charged £170 + VAT and given a vat invoice. The school passes the instrument on to Tim for £170 (or less). The school reclaims the VAT in the usual way.

Some LEA's operate the scheme slightly differently and require a particular form to be filled in and sent along with the order by the school.

Your first step should always be to speak to the LEA School.

If this scheme is not available in your region, you can still take advantage of some of the best priced student level instruments on sale anywhere at www.Karacha.com or in a local Karacha Music Supplies.