Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme

Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme

The Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme (AIPS) is a government-approved scheme designed to help you purchase an instrument for your child without paying the VAT. Certain criteria need to be met, which you can find out about in this guide. The scheme can be applied on any new instrument above £100 (full retail price) as long as the criteria are met.

• The student must be in full time education at an LEA school or an academy
• The student must be receiving music tuition at the school/music centre
• The instrument must be portable
• The instrument must be appropriate for the student’s needs

How the AIPS scheme works

• First, check with your school, academy or music centre that they operate the Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme.
• Visit our shop to try out and choose an instrument. This can be any new instrument of £100 (full retail price) or above. You can check available stock and prices on our website, or feel free to call us on 01926 886883 in advance if you wish to check before travelling.
• We will fill in a short form in-store with details of the instrument chosen, plus contact details of the school and the parent/guardian. We will then notify the school/academy of your intended purchase.
• The school/academy will request payment from the parent/guardian.
• Once we have confirmation from the school that payment has been received from the parent/guardian in full, we will then request payment from the school.
• Once we have received payment from the school, we can release the instrument. The instrument will be delivered to the school, or with the school’s authorisation, it can be collected in-store (we will confirm with the school that the instrument has been collected).

Our team can help with any queries you may have about the scheme. Contact us with any questions and we will be happy to help.

FAQs

Q: Do I own the instrument?

A: Yes, if you purchase through the AIPS scheme, you are the eventual owner of the instrument. The school/music centre is just a facilitator for the purchase. Your warranty is all as normal and is fulfilled by Presto Music.

Q: Does it apply to all instruments?

A: Yes. As long as the instrument is suitable for the player and is portable, the scheme can be applied to any new instrument we sell above the full retail price of £100.

Q: When we choose the instrument in-store, can we take it away with us?

A: No, but we will reserve that specific instrument for you. Once we have received payment in full from the school, we will deliver the instrument for you to collect from the school, or with the school’s authorisation, you can collect it in-store.

Q: Can I use the AIPS scheme via a private or fee-paying school?

A: No. Unfortunately, the scheme can only be used by LEA schools, music centres or academies.