Chiral Accountants - UK-Wide & Doncaster Accountants for Small Businesses

VAT Returns & Compliance

Honest Advice: How We Handle VAT

We manage VAT as part of our ongoing bookkeeping and Accounts Packages — not as a standalone, one-off filing service. If you're looking for someone to simply submit a VAT return based on your own figures, we're not the right fit, and we'd rather tell you that upfront than take on work we're not comfortable with.

Limited Company Packages Sole Trader MTD Packages

Why We Don't Offer Standalone VAT Filing

A VAT return is only ever as accurate as the transaction records behind it. Filing one based on bookkeeping we haven't overseen means putting our name to figures we can't properly verify — which is a risk to you as much as it is to us. Done properly, VAT compliance means staying on top of your records throughout the quarter, not just checking totals at the end of it.

What This Means For You

If you'd like us to take on your VAT, we'll need to manage the underlying bookkeeping too. This is exactly what our Accounts Packages are designed for, so VAT is included as standard rather than being an extra bolt-on.

What's Included When VAT Is Part of Your Package

Once we're managing your bookkeeping, VAT compliance is handled as a natural part of the process:

  • MTD-Compliant Submission: Calculation and digital filing of your VAT return directly to HMRC.
  • Ongoing Reconciliation: Your VAT position is checked and maintained throughout the quarter, not just at deadline time.
  • Scheme Advice: Guidance on whether the Flat Rate, Cash Accounting, or Standard VAT scheme suits your business best.
  • Registration Support: Help monitoring the VAT registration threshold and registering with HMRC when the time comes.

Key VAT Deadlines & Penalties

VAT-registered businesses face a strict quarterly cycle, now backed by HMRC's points-based penalty system:

  • Filing & Payment: Both your VAT return and payment are due 1 month and 7 days after the end of your VAT quarter.
  • Late Filing: Each late return earns a penalty point. Once you reach the threshold for your filing frequency (4 points for quarterly filers), a £200 penalty applies, with a further £200 for every late return after that.
  • Late Payment: Separate penalties and daily interest apply on VAT paid late, in addition to any late filing points.

VAT Is Included In Our Accounts Packages

Rather than pricing VAT as a separate add-on, we build it into our monthly Accounts Packages alongside your bookkeeping, statutory accounts, and tax returns — one predictable fee, fully compliant, all year round.

See Our Packages

Want Us To Manage Your VAT?

Get in touch and we'll talk through your bookkeeping and VAT needs, and put together a clear, fixed quote.

Request Your Free Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer standalone VAT return filing?

No. We only handle VAT as part of managing your ongoing bookkeeping, through one of our Accounts Packages. We don't file VAT returns based on records we haven't prepared or reviewed ourselves, as we can't be confident the figures are accurate without that oversight.

I already do my own bookkeeping — can you just file the VAT return?

Not on its own, no. We'd want to review and take over the bookkeeping so we can be confident in what we're submitting. In practice this usually works out well for clients anyway, since it folds neatly into one of our fixed-fee Accounts Packages rather than being a separate cost.

How much does VAT compliance cost?

VAT compliance is included as standard within our Accounts Packages, with pricing depending on your transaction volume and VAT scheme. We'll always confirm an exact fixed monthly fee before any work begins.

When are VAT returns due?

Both your VAT return and any payment owed are due 1 month and 7 days after the end of your VAT quarter.

What happens if I file or pay VAT late?

Late returns earn penalty points, with a £200 penalty once you reach the threshold for your filing frequency (4 points for quarterly filers), and a further £200 for each late return after that. Late payment carries separate penalties and daily interest.