VAT & Making Tax Digital Support for Businesses
Practical VAT support covering registration, bookkeeping, VAT returns, reconciliations, Making Tax Digital and ongoing compliance.
Accounting & Tax Associates Ltd helps start-ups, limited companies and growing businesses maintain reliable VAT records, understand their VAT position and prepare returns from accounting information that has been properly reviewed and reconciled.
VAT Starts With the Underlying Transactions
A VAT return is only as reliable as the accounting records behind it. Sales, purchases, expenses, imports, credit notes and other transactions need to be recorded correctly before the VAT position can be properly reviewed.
ATA connects VAT compliance with the underlying bookkeeping process, helping businesses maintain clearer records and identify potential VAT issues before a return is submitted.
Explore our wider Accounting & Bookkeeping Services for businesses requiring ongoing financial record keeping, reporting and compliance support.
Explore Accounting Services →VAT Support From Registration Through to Filing
The level of VAT support required will depend on your business, transaction volumes, industry, VAT scheme and the types of goods or services being supplied.
VAT Registration
Support with assessing registration requirements and preparing the information required for a VAT registration application.
VAT Returns
Preparation and submission of periodic VAT returns based on reviewed accounting records and supporting information.
Making Tax Digital
Support with maintaining digital VAT records and using compatible accounting software for VAT reporting.
VAT Reconciliations
Reconciling VAT return figures to the underlying accounting records and investigating unexplained differences.
Input VAT Review
Reviewing VAT recorded on purchases and expenses and considering whether amounts have been supported and treated appropriately.
Output VAT Review
Reviewing VAT charged on sales and identifying transactions that may require different VAT treatment.
VAT Errors & Corrections
Reviewing bookkeeping or VAT return errors and helping determine the appropriate way to correct identified issues.
VAT Accounting Schemes
Reviewing whether available VAT accounting schemes may be relevant to the way your business operates.
HMRC VAT Correspondence
Assistance with understanding and responding to routine HMRC VAT queries and requests for accounting information.
Do You Need to Register for VAT?
Businesses need to monitor taxable turnover and consider whether compulsory VAT registration has been triggered or is expected to be triggered.
Some businesses may also consider voluntary VAT registration where registration is not yet compulsory.
The VAT implications should be considered in the context of your customers, pricing, expenses, industry and expected future turnover.
HMRC VAT Registration Guidance ↗VAT records should be maintained through an appropriate digital accounting process where Making Tax Digital requirements apply.
Keep VAT Records Digitally
Making Tax Digital has changed the way VAT records and returns are maintained and submitted.
ATA can help organise the bookkeeping process so the information used for VAT reporting is maintained within an appropriate digital workflow.
Where more than one system is involved, consideration may also need to be given to how accounting information moves between those systems.
HMRC Making Tax Digital for VAT Guidance ↗Don’t Treat the VAT Return as an Isolated Filing
VAT should connect back to the underlying accounting records. Reconciliations can help identify missing transactions, duplicate entries, incorrect VAT coding and unexplained control account balances.
VAT Reporting Through QuickBooks, Xero & Sage
ATA works with commonly used accounting platforms to help businesses maintain bookkeeping records that support reliable VAT reporting.
QuickBooks VAT Support
Support with VAT coding, bank feeds, transaction processing, reconciliations and review of VAT records maintained in QuickBooks.
Visit QuickBooks ↗Xero VAT Support
Support with transaction review, VAT bookkeeping, bank reconciliations and VAT reporting for businesses using Xero.
Visit Xero ↗Sage VAT Support
Support with nominal ledger records, VAT coding, reconciliation and VAT reporting for businesses using Sage.
Visit Sage ↗VAT & Accounting Support Across Different Industries
VAT treatment can vary considerably depending on what a business sells, how customers are charged, the way income is collected and whether transactions involve property, stock, imports, subcontractors, online platforms or overseas suppliers.
Explore Common VAT Issues
These areas can develop into dedicated technical landing pages as the ATA VAT knowledge centre expands.
VAT Connects With the Wider Accounting Process
VAT relies heavily on accurate bookkeeping and can affect the wider accounting and tax position of the business.
VAT Support Built Around the Accounting Records
Direct involvement from the person responsible for the engagement.
Accounting records and VAT processes structured around efficient digital workflows.
VAT returns reviewed in the context of the underlying accounting information.
VAT issues considered in the context of how the individual business operates.
Useful HMRC VAT Resources
VAT Services FAQs
Common VAT questions from small and growing businesses.
When does a business need to register for VAT?
VAT registration may become compulsory when taxable turnover exceeds the applicable registration threshold or where the business expects the relevant threshold to be exceeded. Registration may also be voluntary in some circumstances.
Can ATA prepare and submit our VAT returns?
Yes. ATA can prepare VAT returns from the underlying accounting records, review relevant balances and submit returns through an appropriate digital accounting process.
Do VAT records need to be kept digitally?
VAT-registered businesses generally need to maintain specified digital records under Making Tax Digital requirements unless an exemption applies.
Can bookkeeping and VAT be handled together?
Yes. Keeping bookkeeping and VAT connected can make it easier to reconcile VAT returns to the accounting records and identify issues before filing.
Can you help if previous VAT returns contain errors?
We can review the accounting records and identified differences and help assess the appropriate treatment or correction process.
Can ATA work with QuickBooks, Xero or Sage?
Yes. ATA works with commonly used accounting platforms including QuickBooks, Xero and Sage and can review how VAT records are maintained within the accounting system.
Do you support VAT-registered start-ups?
Yes. We can help new businesses organise their bookkeeping and VAT processes from the outset and integrate VAT compliance into the wider accounting system.
Can ATA help with an HMRC VAT enquiry?
We can assist with reviewing the accounting records and responding to routine HMRC requests for VAT-related information within the agreed scope of the engagement.
Let’s Review Your VAT & Accounting Setup
Tell us about your business, VAT registration status and how your accounting records are currently maintained.
Tell Us About Your VAT Position
Give us a short overview of your business and the VAT support you require.