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VAT Returns
VAT Returns
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VAT Return Filing
Accurate, on-time VAT return filing
Our company has many years of experience providing high quality VAT services, tailored to meet your business needs.
We strive to ensure that your company complies with UK VAT laws with accurate, on-time filings. Our services can reduce your VAT costs and alleviate the burden of VAT registration, return filings, inspections and other communications with VAT.
Our Services Include
Assisting with VAT registration
Preparation of overseas VAT refund claims
Preparing/reviewing VAT returns
Preparation of statistical declarations (i.e. EC Sales Lists & Intrastate declarations)
VAT advice
For more details see our brochure.
View BrochureGeneral Information
VAT returns and online filing
Virtually all VAT-registered businesses must now submit their VAT Returns online and pay any VAT due electronically. Working with our service allows you the convenience of avoiding this.
As your VAT agent, we are responsible for collecting all the correct pertinent information and submitting your return on behalf of your business. This can save you time, stress and money in the long run.
For your convenience, you can now submit your Form VAT returns online. There are many other services you can now perform online such as:
Requesting and downloading the CST forms
Downloading the e-Sugam forms
Uploading the CST Receipt forms, Sales, Export Invoice details, TDS forms, and Purchases
Though there is a user manual available on the web-site, many business owners find that they do not have the time to browse through it for information.
We provide free chat options so that you can discuss your issues with a VAT expert. For more information and advice, please contact us.
UK VAT Filing Guide
A practical guide to UK VAT filing
Understand what happens after VAT registration, how VAT returns are calculated, filing deadlines, penalties, registration changes and the role of a VAT agent.
01 What happens after you receive a VAT registration?
You will be advised through an email or a letter that you have got a VAT registration number. See our VAT Registration page .
Sometime later you will receive a VAT registration certificate. If you get registered through a tax agent, ask for a VAT certificate to be emailed to you.
It does not matter if you have a scanned copy or receive a hard copy of such certificate. What is important are the details needed to register for VAT filing online.
Make sure you know:
Your full business name as it is stated in the VAT certificate
The VAT number
The exact VAT registration address, which for some businesses is the address of their tax agent
The date of registration
The periods of the first VAT return
02 What is included in a VAT return and how is it calculated?
There are 9 boxes in total you have to fill in.
VAT due in the filing period on all sales and other outputs
In box 1 include all VAT due on all taxable supplies: goods or services you provided to your customers. This VAT is called “output VAT”, VAT you received from your customers when you send out your invoices to them.
This section does not include any export or dispatches as they should be zero rated.
However, you need to include all import VAT due as a result of postponed accounting.
Other VAT you receive should be included as well: sale of stocks and assets, goods you take out of the business for own use, VAT accounted for as a reverse charge, supplies to staff, VAT shown on self-billed invoices issued by your customer, distance sales to Northern Ireland which are above the distance selling threshold or, if below the threshold, the overseas supplier opts to register for VAT in the UK, commission received for selling something on behalf of someone else.
VAT due in the period on acquisitions of goods made in Northern Ireland from EU Member States
From 1 January 2021 you will only be allowed to make acquisitions on goods you bring into Northern Ireland from the EU.
For acquisitions you should show the VAT due on all goods and related costs bought from VAT-registered suppliers in EU member states.
From 1st of January 2021 this box should be used only for acquisitions on goods brought into Northern Ireland from the EU. The box shows all VAT due on goods and costs bought from VAT-registered suppliers in EU.
Total VAT due
This is the total output VAT for the filing period and represents boxes 1 and 2 added together.
VAT reclaimed in the period on purchases and other inputs
This should be the total of all VAT charged to you during the VAT filing period. This box is the total of input VAT and represents the total of all incoming invoices.
The amount should include the VAT reclaimed on all imports accounted for as postponed VAT accounting.
You cannot reclaim VAT unless you have supporting evidence:
For purchases this should be VAT invoices
For import C79 or other relevant documents see HMRC Notice 700 for more details
Net VAT to HMRC or reclaim from HMRC
This should be the difference between boxes 3 and 4. Take both amounts and deduct the smaller from the larger.
If the return is calculated through an accounting software, this figure will be calculated automatically.
Total value of sales and other outputs excluding VAT
This box should show the total value of all sales made during the VAT filing period excluding VAT.
The total value of purchases and other inputs excluding VAT
This box should show the total value of purchases and expenses without any VAT.
This should include the value of imports, acquisitions of goods brought into Northern Ireland from EU, and reverse charge transactions.
All supplies of goods and related costs to EU made on or before 31st of December 2020
The box should include all supplies of goods to EU and directly related costs made up to the end of 2020.
Figures included in this box must be included in box 6 as well.
This box is also for supplies of goods and related costs from Northern Ireland to EU from 1st of January 2021.
The total of all acquisitions of goods and related costs from EU up to 31st of December 2020
This box should be used to record all acquisitions of goods from VAT-registered suppliers in EU and directly related costs.
The figure from this box must also be included in box 7 total of the return.
From 1st of January 2021 the sales to EU are no longer classed as acquisitions. They are called imports and should be treated as standard imports.
From 1st of January only the acquisitions of goods and related costs from EU to Northern Ireland should be included in this box.
03 How often are VAT returns submitted?
Unlike the EU VAT filing rules, VAT registration businesses in the UK are required to file regularly on a quarterly basis.
The first VAT filing return is usually different. You may also ask to change the VAT filing frequency. See the section Changes to VAT Registration Details.
We offer VAT return filing service from only £55 per month.
04 What are the deadlines for VAT returns?
In the UK, HMRC required all VAT registered businesses to file their VAT return by the 7th of the second month after the end of the VAT filing period.
For example, if we are filing for the period from 01/01/21 to 31/03/21, we have got till the 7th of May to file our VAT return.
The payments of VAT owed to HMRC should be made by the same deadline.
Sometimes, our clients are surprised to receive a late payment penalty, when they made the payment before or on the 7th. This primarily affects international clients who make payments from their overseas accounts.
HMRC require the payment hit their account by the deadline. If this does not happen the late filing penalty cannot be disputed.
05 What happens if I do not file my VAT return in time for the deadline?
Surcharges and Penalties
Every time you fail to submit a VAT return in time for the statutory deadline, HMRC will record a surcharge against you. The same process applies to late VAT payments.
You may be entered in a 12-month period. During this period HMRC will be monitoring your account. Every time you default the 12-month period is extended.
You will not have to pay a surcharge if:
The amount of VAT due is zero
The VAT is paid in full by the deadline
You are due a VAT repayment
How much is my surcharge?
Surcharge is normally calculated as a percentage of the VAT outstanding on the due date of the VAT return.
Penalties
In case of careless or deliberate inaccuracy: 100% of any VAT under-stated or over-claimed
If HMRC send you an assessment and you do not tell them it is wrong within 30 days
If you submit a paper VAT return and are not exempt from MTD
06 How to make changes to your VAT registration details?
You must keep your VAT details up-to-date. Any time a change occurs in your details or the details of the business, they need to be reported to HMRC within 30 days.
The VAT changes can be submitted online, through the form VAT484 or by a webchat or phone call to HMRC.
Change of VAT details form VAT 484 can be used to:
Change the name of a business
Change the company address or contact details
Change or add bank details
Change VAT return dates
Change of owner of the business
07 VAT Agent Services in the UK
VAT agent is normally an accountancy firm who will support you in all your tax matters and will bear all responsibilities on your behalf.
Unlike some countries of the EU, it is not an obligation to have a VAT agent in UK.
However, it is quite desirable by HMRC. If a business appoints a VAT tax agent officially, the tax office have a contact in the UK who will respond to all the queries and will be held responsible for filing VAT returns and paying VAT.
Our experience shows that businesses who use services of a responsible VAT agent are less likely to miss deadlines or make mistakes in their VAT returns.
VAT agent plays a crucial part during VAT checks and investigations if they happen.
See more details in our VAT Agent and VAT Inspections sections.
We offer VAT agent services to non-established businesses and individuals around the world.
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