VAT Accounting Services
VAT (Value Added Tax) can be difficult to understand, and the regulations surrounding it are constantly changing. There are many rules and exceptions to navigate, but with our help, you can be sure that your VAT obligations are met without costing you the earth.
At Optimise Accountants & Tax Advisors, we are here to provide you with the advice and ongoing support you need to make working out your VAT returns a breeze. Our friendly and knowledgeable chartered accountants understand the ins and outs of VAT regulations. We are more than happy to work alongside you to process your returns and settle your VAT accounts.
Get in touch with one of our VAT specialists today and find out how we can help you!
What is VAT?
VAT, also known as Value Added Tax, is a type of tax added to the purchase price of goods and services sold by VAT-registered companies. While it may seem slightly unnecessary and confusing, there’s a good reason for VAT payments – to generate more money for the Government and distribute the tax burden across the various stages of production and consumption.
As a VAT-registered business, you have the benefit of being able to claim VAT for business expenses and purchases when you file your VAT return.
What are VAT returns?
HMRC requires all VAT-registered companies to submit VAT returns online to inform them of how much VAT their business has charged and how much VAT they have paid to other companies. You will usually be required to submit your VAT return every three months, which is known as your VAT period.
Who needs to pay VAT?
At present, businesses with a taxable turnover of over £90,000 in a 12-month rolling period must register for VAT or, if your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 within a 30 day period.
We can help you find the right VAT scheme
There are a number of VAT schemes available to benefit small and medium businesses. At Optimise Accountants & Tax Advisors, we can help you find the right one for your business.
Standard VAT Scheme
This is the most traditional method, but it can make keeping records more complex. The aim is to pay HMRC the difference between the VAT your business charges on sales and the VAT you’ve paid on purchases.
VAT Flat Rate Scheme
If your business has an annual turnover under £150,000 per year, then you may be eligible to join the Flat Rate Scheme. We’ll help you decide whether this is the right VAT scheme for your business, as you may be able to pay a lower VAT rate to HMRC depending on the type of business you own.
Annual Accounting Scheme
This scheme aims to ease the monthly payments for your business by requiring you to make advanced VAT payments based on the estimated annual turnover. Although, if you regularly claim VAT, then this scheme might not be for you.
There are many more schemes available, including more specialist schemes.
Why do I need a VAT accountant?
Your business might need a VAT accountant to help handle your VAT affairs in a smart way. Working out your VAT calculations can be very confusing – some goods and services are VAT exempt, whilst others aren’t.
You’re probably beginning to wonder what all this really means. That is where we come in!
Our experienced VAT team can ensure that you’re getting the most out of VAT without paying over the odds. You’ll have peace of mind when working with us, as we’ll ensure your business complies with its VAT obligations, preventing fines and other VAT issues. We can also advise on your individual circumstances and whether there might be any beneficial VAT schemes available to you.
Ultimately, we’ll be your friendly helper to keep your business on the right track with its taxes.
Are you VAT registered?
If you are not yet registered for VAT, then not to worry. The process of registering for VAT is relatively straightforward, and at Optimise Accountants & Tax Advisors, we can help every step of the way.
First and foremost, you will need to use the HMRC Online Services to start your VAT registration – you will also need a handful of important business details to complete the process, including your business name and industry, bank details, Company Registration Number and UTR number. These details will vary for individuals, but we can help you during the registration.
Once you are VAT-registered, you will be provided with a unique VAT Registration Number and an effective date of registration which will be used for future tax purposes.
Why choose us for your VAT services:
- Responsive – We have internal KPIs for delivering our services and responding to clients, no one wants a tax bill on the day it’s due. We’ll give you plenty of notice and always respond to queries in a timely manner.
- Experienced – As chartered accountants & chartered tax advisors, we’ve been there and got the t-shirt so there isn’t much we don’t know about accounting and if we don’t, we know where to find out!
- Cost Effective – Appointing an accountancy firm is an investment, not a cost. Our purpose is to ensure we save you money and provide you with a valuable service to help you business start, grow and succeed.
- Proactive – For our self-assessment and company accounts services, we have a pre-tax review as standard to ensure you are claiming all the available reliefs and allowances to operate tax efficiently, topped off with a personal tax forecast so you know where you stand way ahead of time.
- Personable – We never talk to you in technical language, that’s for us to do around the office water cooler. We keep it simple and straight forward so we are always approachable for any questions.
- Single point of contact – Whether you have one service or multiple services with us, you will always have a single point of communication with a Client Manager so you’ll not passed from department to department to get an answer.
