VAT Annual Accounting Scheme

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1. Overview

Usually, VAT-registered businesses submit their VAT Returns and payments to HM Revenue and Customs 4 times a year.

With the Annual Accounting Scheme you:

  • make advance VAT payments towards your VAT bill - based on your last return (or estimated if you’re new to VAT)
  • submit 1 VAT Return a year

From 1 April 2019, most businesses will need to keep digital VAT records and use software to submit VAT Returns.

When you submit your VAT Return you either:

  • make a final payment - the difference between your advance payments and actual VAT bill
  • apply for a refund - if you’ve overpaid your VAT bill

The scheme would not suit your business if you regularly reclaim VAT because you’ll only be able to get 1 refund a year (when you submit the VAT Return).

You can join the scheme if your estimated VAT taxable turnover is £1.35 million or less.

Talk to an accountant or tax adviser if you want advice on whether the Annual Accounting Scheme is right for you.

2. Eligibility

You can join the Annual Accounting Scheme if:

  • you’re a VAT-registered business
  • your estimated VAT taxable turnover is £1.35 million or less in the next 12 months

VAT taxable turnover is the total of everything sold that is not VAT exempt.

Exceptions

You cannot use the scheme if:

  • you left the scheme in the last 12 months
  • your business is part of a VAT registered division or group of companies
  • you’re not up to date with your VAT Returns or payments
  • you’re insolvent

Leaving the scheme

You must leave the scheme if:

  • you’re no longer eligible to be in it
  • your VAT taxable turnover is (or is likely to be) more than £1.6 million at the end of the annual accounting year

3. Join or leave the scheme

How to join the Annual Accounting Scheme depends on whether you’re registered for VAT or not.

If you’re not registered for VAT

You should register for VAT and join the scheme at the same time. You’ll be told how to join the scheme when you register.

If you’re already registered for VAT

Apply to join the VAT Annual Accounting Scheme online or by post.

If your VAT turnover is £150,000 or less (excluding VAT)

You may be eligible to join the Flat Rate Scheme. With the Flat Rate Scheme, you pay a fixed rate of VAT to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

If you want to join the Flat Rate Scheme you will need to do this separately. Apply to join the Flat Rate Scheme online or by post.

After you apply

You’ll get confirmation that you’ve joined the scheme:

  • sent to your VAT online account - if you applied online
  • in the post - if you applied using a paper form

How to leave

You can leave the scheme at any time, but you must leave if you’re no longer eligible to be in it.

To leave, write to HMRC and they will confirm when you can leave. From this date, you must account for your VAT in the usual way.

You have to wait 12 months before you can rejoin the scheme.

BT VAT
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1WR

4. Return and payment deadlines

Check your VAT Return and payment deadlines in your HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) online account.

VAT Return deadline

There are 12 months in your VAT accounting period. Your VAT Return is due once a year, 2 months after the end of your accounting period.

Most businesses now need to keep digital VAT records and use software to submit VAT Returns.

Payment deadlines

You must make advance payments towards your VAT bill (either monthly or quarterly) during your accounting period and a final payment when you submit your VAT Return.

Payment Deadline
Monthly Due at the end of months 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
Quarterly Due at the end of months 4, 7 and 10
Final payment Within 2 months of month 12

How much do you pay

Each payment is either 10% of your estimated VAT bill (monthly payments) or 25% (quarterly payments). The amount is based on previous VAT returns (or estimated if you’re new to VAT).

HMRC will write telling you when your instalments are due and how much they’ll be.

The final payment (known as a ‘balancing payment’) is the difference between your advance payments and the actual VAT bill confirmed on your VAT Return.

You may be due a VAT refund if you’ve overpaid HMRC.

You must pay VAT to HMRC electronically, for example by Direct Debit or internet banking.