VAT accountant in Liverpool for VAT returns and registration

VAT (Value Added Tax) is charged on most sales by VAT-registered businesses. You collect it from customers, take off the VAT you paid on business costs, and pay the difference to HMRC. On paper it is simple. In practice small errors add up quickly, and HMRC can look back over several years.

As your VAT accountant, we deal with the whole cycle. That means deciding when to register, choosing a scheme that suits how you trade, keeping digital records that meet HMRC’s Making Tax Digital rules, and filing every VAT return on time.

• VAT registration, including choosing to register early where it helps
• Comparing VAT schemes against your actual figures
• Preparing and filing your VAT returns through compatible software
• Checking VAT on purchases is reclaimed and nothing is claimed twice
• Coming off VAT if your sales fall

Choosing the scheme is where we add the most value. Standard accounting works out VAT on invoices issued and received. Cash accounting works it out on money actually paid and received, which helps if customers pay slowly. The Flat Rate Scheme uses a fixed percentage of turnover, which is simpler but does not suit every business. The right answer depends on your margins, your costs and who your customers are, so we test each option against your own figures before you commit.

You must register if your taxable turnover in the last 12 months goes over £90,000. You must also register straight away if you expect to go over £90,000 in the next 30 days alone, for example because of one large contract.

Some businesses register before they have to. If your customers are mostly VAT-registered, or you have large costs with VAT on them, registering early can leave you better off. We work this out with you rather than guessing.

1. 1

   Talk it through

   In a free 20-minute chat we look at your turnover, customers and costs, and whether you are registered already.

2. 2

   Agree a price

   You get a fixed monthly fee in writing within one working day.

3. 3

   Set up the records

   We connect your bank to Xero, QuickBooks, Sage or FreeAgent, or link a spreadsheet using bridging software, so your records meet the digital rules.

4. 4

   Each quarter

   We check the period, match it to the bank, look for VAT you have missed, and send you the figure to approve.

5. 5

   File and pay

   We file the return and tell you the amount and the date. You pay HMRC directly.

Most VAT returns, and the payment, are due 1 month and 7 days after the end of the VAT period. For quarterly returns that works out as:

Your periods may end in different months. HMRC tells you yours when you register, and we put them in your deadline list. We aim to send you each return to approve well before the due date, so the payment never catches you out.

Builders should also know about the domestic reverse charge for construction services, which changes who accounts for the VAT on some invoices. We check your invoices are set up for it.

VAT returns are part of your fixed monthly fee. Businesses with VAT, staff or several income streams usually sit in our growing business package, which starts from £220 a month. See our fees page and our guide to what an accountant costs. If your bookkeeping needs work first, our bookkeeping service can run alongside.

• Your VAT registration number and the dates of your VAT periods, if registered
• Access to your bookkeeping software or your spreadsheet
• Sales invoices and purchase receipts for the period
• Copies of your last few VAT returns
• Any letters from HMRC about VAT