For businesses operating in the UK, understanding Value Added Tax (VAT) schemes is crucial. Not only does VAT impact your cash flow, but navigating the different options can feel overwhelming. This blog post simplifies VAT schemes in the UK, helping you choose the most suitable one for your business. Read more
VAT — the three little letters that strike fear into the hearts of many a Brit. But fear not, fellow taxpayer! Today, we’re taking a break from the spreadsheets and diving into the delightfully quirky world of UK VAT returns.
Ever feel like VAT is playing a game of tax-code whack-a-mole? One minute, it’s 20% on your fancy new bicycle helmet. The next, it’s vanished like a magician’s rabbit on a packet of crisps (because, let’s face it, crisps are a VAT mystery all on their own).
Who knew a simple sponge cake could cause such a stir? Apparently, a sprinkle of chocolate transforms it into a full-VAT situation. Don’t worry, Victoria sponges are safe (for now).
Remember the smoothie wars of ’07? Innocent Drinks tried to claim their creations were “liquefied fruit salad” to avoid VAT. HMRC, ever the defender of fiscal justice, said, “Not so fast, those are clearly beverages!” A tale that proves even the fruitiest tax battles can be entertaining.
We’ve all been there. You’ve spent hours on your return, feeling smug and self-assured. Then, with a click of the submit button, dread washes over you. Did you forget something? Did you use the wrong form for your pet rock collection (because, yes, VAT rules apply there too)? Deep breaths, everyone. VAT return blunders are a thing.
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a VAT refund. It’s like finding a forgotten banknote in your winter coat – a financial windfall delivered straight from HMRC! Just remember, with great refunds comes great responsibility (to spend it wisely, of course).
VAT returns might not be a walk in the park, but with a little humour and a helpful accountant, they can be a gentle breeze on a summer’s morning.
At Taxfile we take the ‘tax’-ing aspect out of VAT returns leaving you with the ‘value added’, focusing on what is important for you and your business.
We can run your VAT from start to finish; all you need to do is keep a digital footprint of your financial data.
Call us on 0208 761 8000 so we can provide you with all the services we provide from VAT registration, bookkeeping, MTD-compliant software and those VAT calculations and submissions. The only thing we don’t do is pay your VAT bill for you!
by Ali at Taxfile.
The UK Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, delivered his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024, amidst a backdrop of subdued economic growth and limited fiscal headroom. The budget aimed to strike a delicate balance between supporting economic activity, controlling public spending, and preparing for future challenges.
If you have missed the announcements, the Key Highlights for the majority of our clients are as follows.
The budget continued the government’s commitment to lower taxes, announcing a further 2p cut to National Insurance contributions (NICs) for both employees and the self-employed as of 6th April 2024. This measure, alongside previous cuts, delivers the largest-ever reduction in NICs, aiming to boost disposable income and stimulate economic activity. Hunt says the National Insurance cut, to begin next month, is worth £450 a year for the average worker earning £35,000 p/a.
Recognising the crucial role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the Chancellor announced an increase in the VAT registration threshold from £85,000 to £90,000 starting from 1st April 2024. For the de-registration from VAT, the taxable threshold has also increased, by the same amount, to £88,000.
The Spring 2024 UK Budget contained two key points regarding child benefit:
The current system has been criticized for being unfair, as two single parents each earning £49,000 would receive full child benefit, while a single parent earning £50,000 would not. Assessing the charge based on household income aims to address this disparity.
The Spring Budget also includes two changes relating to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on property:
The higher rate of capital gains tax (CGT) due on disposal of residential property will reduce to 24% (from 28%), beginning on 6th April 2024. This means that individuals selling a second home or investment property will pay a lower tax rate on their profits.
Announced for 6th April 2025, the budget proposes abolishing the FHL tax regime. This regime currently offers beneficial tax treatment for furnished holiday lets. Instead, all UK residents will be subject to the same capital gains tax rules on their rental income, regardless of whether the property is a long-term or short-term let.
The previous system, where ‘non-doms’ only paid UK tax on non-UK income and gains if they brought them into the UK (remitted), is being abolished entirely.
The reform aims to create a simpler and fairer tax system for individuals regardless of their domicile status. It also encourages spending and investment within the UK by offering temporary tax exemption on foreign income brought into the country. This will be done by:
The new regime focuses on residence instead of domicile. Individuals arriving in the UK after April 2025 will be exempt from tax on foreign income and gains for their first four years of UK residence.
Existing non-doms will have a transition period to adjust to the new system.
Taxfile are high-quality accountants and tax advisors in Tulse Hill, Dulwich and the South West of England.
by Sue at Taxfile.
Whether you’re new to self-employment and have just started to run your own business, or have been doing it for a while – the fact is: Making Tax Digital (‘MTD’) is coming and it would be best to get set up in the right way, now.
Keeping your personal life & your business completely separate is the best policy. It keeps things streamlined and will also save you money when your tax agent comes to do your bookkeeping & tax returns. So:
Making Tax Digital means that you must run your business through a digital traceable source. The best way to do this is to allow us, if we are your tax agent/accountant, to set up your bank statements to feed automatically into accounting software like ‘Xero’. Alternatively, we can accept bank statements downloaded in CSV format, which we would then transfer to Excel spreadsheets.
If you are making cash & card sales, set up an app on your smartphone like ‘Sum Up’ or ‘Square’ so that you will be complying with MTD – your bank can also supply you with a PDQ card reader to accept your cash/card sales. We can upload your sales reports from these services and include them in your sales figures.
Accurate record-keeping is the cornerstone of every successful business
Here at Taxfile, we can currently run your bookkeeping for you quarterly or annually. However, when HMRC implement MTD fully in 2026, tax returns will need to be submitted each quarter — no longer just once a year. We’re therefore recommending that everyone gets used to sending in their bookkeeping records quarterly.
Quarterly bookkeeping also allows us to monitor your sales turnover and alert you at the appropriate time if you are approaching the level of sales that would require you to get registered for VAT. Finding out at the end of the year that you have already gone over the threshold — and should have been charging VAT at an earlier date — can be very costly.
Come and chat with one of our friendly team in the Tulse Hill office about getting things set up & ready in good time. Or call for a telephone appointment to discuss what will be best suited to your particular business operations.
Whether you are a sole trader with no staff or subcontractors for a larger concern, we are here to help every size of business get set up on the right path — for getting MTD-ready.
Taxfile is a tax advisor and accountant with offices in Tulse Hill, and Dulwich in South London, and Devon & Cornwall in the South West of England.
Value Added Tax (VAT), a consumption tax levied on most goods and services in the UK, plays a significant role in the nation’s economy. Whether you’re a sole trader, limited company business owner or simply a curious consumer, understanding VAT is crucial for navigating the UK’s tax system effectively. Today’s comprehensive guide explains what it is, the various VAT rates, when you need to be registered for the tax, VAT schemes, and more. Read more
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled his Spring Statement for 2022 on 23 March and in some ways it was more like a mini budget.
Key takeaways from the Spring Statement include:
Watch the Chancellor’s 28 minute Spring Statement 2022, as delivered to the House of Commons, in the video above (skip any adverts). Alternatively get all the detail in the House’s briefing summary here. There’s also a Read more
Did you know that Taxfile’s clients are protected from HMRC enquiries, for example for tax returns and similar submissions we make to HMRC? Through a simple, low-cost fee, Taxfile promises to liaise with HMRC on clients’ behalves should HMRC ever want further clarification of figures submitted. This includes HMRC queries following a tax return, VAT return, corporation tax return or payroll submission made by us. Usually, protecting clients from this type of HMRC investigation could mount up in terms of cost, as it can sometimes take hours to deal with, even for tax experts like us. However, with Taxfile’s low cost cover, it’s all covered automatically (within reason, of course*).
The enquiry cover costs only …
(VAT extra). Most accountants would charge you a considerable sum for this level of protection against HMRC enquiries. However, at Taxfile, we spread the cost through the whole business and, as a result, the cost to clients is a fraction of what it could otherwise be. We hope you agree that it’s a very small price to pay for such peace of mind, should the worst happen.
Do ask a staff member if you would like more information or, indeed, if you would like any tax or accountancy help. Telephone 020 8761 8000 or contact us here. We are Read more
The rapid pace of technological change has caused some of the biggest shifts in how we view and process our tax returns. At Taxfile, we’re constantly striving to use technology as effectively as possible to aid us in collecting, analysing, and collaborating when working on your personal data.
Over the pandemic, we’ve had to place our reliance even further on technology to maintain our standards, with regular meetings online. We’re constantly improving the efficiency of our work pipeline and, with the ability to pull figures directly from online bank statements, we can ensure precision in the numbers we present you with. For the last two years, we’ve implemented cloud technology as both a collaborative tool between our senior and junior staff and as storage for various databases used to track everything from employee working hours to the status of your tax return. We’re expanding further on this concept in collaboration with Pure Technology by merging our existing cloud systems with our current remote work solution to form one, all-encompassing workspace environment. Hosting it in the Microsoft Cloud ensures that, with the help of our office staff, your paperwork and bookings can be sent to and viewed by your tax agent as soon as possible. This and a variety of other endeavours are examples of our ambitions to be at the forefront of innovations, and constant review of our policies ensures we remain ahead, or on track, to meet the standards set by Making Tax Digital (MTD) for its 2023 launch.
Taxfile can help you with all your tax or accountancy requirements. We offer Read more
My name is Daniel and I have been a part of the Taxfile family since 2007. It started as a part-time job doing bookkeeping, but as time went on, I developed new abilities and a deeper understanding of the tax world. PAYE, VAT, and Company Register are now my areas of expertise.
I understand how complicated the tax world is, so here are a few PAYE things to consider:
PAYE is calculated based on how much you earn and whether you are eligible for the personal allowance.
The Employment Allowance allows certain businesses that employ workers to reduce their annual National Insurance (NI) bill by up to £4,000 (for the 2021/22 tax year).
Eligible businesses can claim a reduction against their employer’s Class 1 NI liability up to a maximum of £4,000 each tax year. You can still claim the allowance if the liability was less than £4,000 in a tax year.
You can’t claim if you’re a company with only one employee paid above the Class 1 National Insurance Secondary Threshold (£8,840 for the 2021/22 tax year, up from £8,788 for the 2020/21 tax year) if that employee is also a director of the company.
HMRC will send out a P800 tax calculation form after the tax year ends on 5 April, which you should receive by the end of November. This will show how much tax is due to be refunded, or is owed for previous years.
Another significant aspect of Taxfile is that it works with a wide range of accounts software (Sage, QuickBooks, Xero, FreeAgent, VT, Forbes, Moneysoft, and so on) and can accommodate everyone. These are just a few examples, but if you need assistance with any area of PAYE, VAT, or other types of tax, Taxfile and the team are here to help. Call Taxfile on 020 8761 8000, book a free appointment (in-person and phone or video call options are available) or simply message us your tax-related query and we’ll be happy to help. We are accountants and tax experts in South London and the South West.
This post was brought to you by Daniel at Taxfile.
Changes in EU VAT is incoming from 1st July 2021 for Business to Customer (B2C) sales for those operating within the EU. The changes need to also be considered for businesses in the UK, post-Brexit, that wish to sell online directly to the customer.
The new EU VAT E-commerce package is comprised of two key components;
It is not compulsory to report VAT using either of these methods, the option is still available to register for VAT in each EU country you wish to do trade with and account and pay VAT in each of those territories. However, reading that, you would wonder why you would take on such a task, when you can just do one VAT return, where the liabilities are then paid to each country where the B2C transaction occurred. However, importantly, these 2 methods can only be used for Read more