VAT Services

A brief summary of some of the main services provided by our specialist VAT team:

VAT registration and de-registration

Whether applying for VAT registration, group registration or de-registering from VAT, we can help you prepare the necessary forms and monitor their progress with HMRC, to ensure the process goes smoothly.

VAT compliance

We can advise on the regulatory requirements for accounting for VAT on a day-to-day basis. This could be advising on the content required for a VAT invoice, the correct time for charging and accounting for VAT and when VAT can be claimed. We can advise on the VAT liability of your supplies (goods or services) to make sure VAT is only charged where necessary.

Preparation of VAT returns

We can complete your VAT returns for you either at your premises or at our own, leaving your staff free to give their attention to other business issues.

Alternatively, we can review in detail, selected VAT returns of your choice either before or after submission to HMRC. This review can help identify and resolve any VAT errors as well as identify any areas of opportunity for businesses to improve its VAT position. Additionally, we can also prepare any Intrastat or EC sales lists that form part of the VAT return procedure.

Comprehensive VAT review

This will entail carrying out a critical analysis of sales and purchases activities of the business. We would also seek to identify VAT opportunities for cashflow planning as well as identifying any VAT exposures to assessments, interest charges and penalties. We can also consider any VAT implications arising from a clients’ prospective business plans and objectives to make sure that VAT does not compromise these arrangements.

Such a review enables a business to take a pro-active approach to its VAT affairs and provides comfort in knowing that the business is VAT efficient, or provides an early warning with regards to exposure to VAT errors that could be costly if discovered by HMRC.

Cash flow planning

In essence, this would involve looking at ways of how business affairs can be arranged to avoid creating an unnecessary tax liability and take maximum advantage of the various VAT reliefs’ available.

VAT audits by Customs and Excise

Some businesses may have a good relationship with the local VAT officer but no business has a good relationship with HMRC.

As VAT audits can be a worrying time, we can be available on the day of the visit either on site or at the end of a telephone to help with any questions raised by Customs and Excise. If you prefer, we can carry out a risk assessment of the VAT position prior to their visit and advise on how to deal with any problems this highlights. We can also help with any VAT issues that arise after the visit.

VAT disputes

VAT assessments, penalties and interest charges can often be avoided or mitigated by the involvement of VAT specialists in disputes with HMRC at an early stage. We will liase with you and HMRC and based on the facts, determine if a VAT issue exists and if so, advise on the best way on how to deal with it.

We will seek to conclude an early agreement with HMRC avoiding costly assessments and appeals.

In the event that an appeal to the VAT and Duties Tribunal is necessary, we can provide representation at the Tribunal or determine the cost of a qualified advocate to present the case to the Tribunal on your behalf.

VAT training

We can provide training either on-site at your premises or at our own offices. We offer basic VAT training for staff involved in purchasing, sales, finance or administration. The aim is to ensure that staff can deal with day-to-day VAT issues as they arise within your business and hopefully identify potential problem areas.

Additionally, we can provide VAT training tailored to the specific needs of the business incorporating VAT issues that are particularly relevant to them.

VAT seminars

From time-to-time we provide VAT seminars at our offices on topical subjects such as property, charities, VAT planning opportunities etc. The purpose of these seminars is to bring clients up-to-date with recent changes or case law that may impact on their own circumstances.

We can provide these seminars at the work place if requested and there is no restriction on VAT topics available for discussion.

International VAT issues

VAT is now operated in over 130 countries worldwide. With businesses looking to expand their operations into overseas markets, very often, VAT or its equivalent is not usually at the top of the list of priorities at the time of expansion.

Many businesses have found to their cost that overlooking this responsibility has lead to inefficient VAT structures, difficulties with overseas tax authorities and occasionally, financial difficulties or lost customers.

ith the assistance of our international offices we can provide advice on how to approach trading in countries outside the UK, from an indirect tax and direct tax point of view. We can advise if fiscal representation is required in these countries and assist with the completion of tax and VAT returns as required.

Claims for overseas VAT

If your business suffers foreign VAT on trips made abroad, we can help you maximise the VAT recovery from countries in the European Union and non-European Union countries.

Where necessary, we will liaise with our international colleagues to expedite claims and deal with any questions raised by the overseas fiscal authorities.

VAT Investigation Services

A number of businesses stumble into situations where their business becomes the subject of a VAT investigation. Although only a few cases are treated as criminal fraud, the instances of civil fraud are increasing due to the broad definition civil fraud is given within the VAT legislation. In these cases, HMRC can impose penalties of 100% of the tax evaded (or sought to be evaded).

We can provide specialist VAT investigation services, ranging from initial negotiations with HMRC, through to court representation, depending on the business requirements and the seriousness of the situation.

Regular VAT bulletins and news articles

From time-to-time we send out to our existing clients VAT bulletins covering news items on VAT matters, changes to legislation, results of important VAT cases. This information is also available on our web-site.

Customs Duty

Paying duty on goods entering into the UK or in other countries is usually a non-recoverable cost to businesses.

We can provide advice on how to reduce this cost perhaps by looking at the duty rates for the same goods in other countries to see if a better deal is available. We can also check that the duty you have been charged was the right amount for those goods and if this is not the case, we may be able to obtain a refund on the overcharge.