VAT return accountant UK

• Could your business use one of the simplified accounting schemes?
• Does your business need to be VAT-registered?
• Are you entitled to claim VAT bad debt relief?
• Are you accounting for VAT correctly on the fuel used for private motoring? Should you be accounting for the appropriate scale charge?

The process for working out the VAT treatment of delivery charges can be quite complex.

We have listed below some of the main issues to bear in mind when deciding whether or not VAT needs to be applied.

• No charge for delivery. HMRC’s guidance is clear that if delivery is free, or the cost is built into the normal sales price, VAT is accounted for on the value of the goods based on the liability of the goods themselves. This applies whether or not delivery is required under the contract.
• Goods on approval. Where you are delivering goods on approval this service is not classed as delivered goods. In this case, the delivery service is a separate VATable supply.
• Additional charge for delivery. There is a single supply of delivered goods for which the VAT liability is based on the VAT liability of the goods.
• Delivery is not required. If delivery is not included in a contract to supply goods, then the delivery charge is liable to VAT at the standard rate irrespective of the VAT liability of the goods supplied. This assumes the delivery is within the UK.
• Separate charge for packing. A separate packing service for which a charge is made will be standard-rated within the UK.
• Food deliveries. The rules as to whether VAT is payable on delivery charges for food follows the VAT liability of the food. For example, the supply of hot takeaway food is usually standard-rated for VAT and a delivery charge would also be subject to VAT.

Where there is a mix of zero-rated and standard-rated items delivered, or where goods are delivered internationally, the situation can be more complex and further attention may be required…More

There are four conditions that must be satisfied in order for an activity to be within the scope of UK VAT. These conditions are that the activity:

1. Is a supply of goods or services
2. That the supply takes place in the UK
3. Is made by a taxable person
4. Is made in the course or furtherance of any business carried on or to be carried on by that person More

Changes in VAT penalties

The new system is points-based. This means that taxpayers will incur a penalty point for each missed VAT submission deadline. At a certain threshold of points, a financial penalty of £200 will be charged and the taxpayer will be notified. The threshold varies depending on the required submission frequency (monthly, quarterly, annual). For quarterly VAT returns, the penalty points threshold will be 4 points. The penalty points will reset to zero following a period of compliance, for quarterly returns this requires 12-months of compliance. There are also time limits after which a point cannot be levied. More