Online Filing of VAT Returns and Paying VAT

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Posted By
site_admin
16/08/2010

It is now mandatory for all VAT registered traders with a turnover of £100,000 or more and all newly registered traders to submit returns and pay VAT electronically.

Many traders who should be making the change have not yet done so. There are also very many traders who do not have to make the change, but for whom the change to online returns and payments would be beneficial.

Each month I talk to members who have been fined for late returns and late payments which were only a couple of days late. They are surprised and hurt, and often have posted returns and cheques in good time but have no evidence of posting.

View the table below to see the advantage of online returns

Accounting

Period

Standard due date

for paper filing

Extended due date

for online filing with

electronic payment

April – June

30 July 2010

7 August 2010

May – July

31 August 2010

7 September 2010

June – Aug

30 September 2010

7 October 2010

July – Sept

29 October 2010

7 November 2010

Aug – Oct

30 November 2010

7 December 2010

Sept – Nov

31 December 2010

7 January 2011

Oct –  Dec

31 January 2011

7 February 2011

Nov – Jan

28 February 2011

7 March 2011

Dec-  Feb

31 March 2011

7 April 2011

Jan – March

29 April 2011

7 May 2011

Feb – April

31 May 2011

7 June 2011

You get 7 more days and can file on the day itself if pushed, plus you can get HMRC to send you email alerts to remind you that a VAT return is needed as a deadline approaches.

An even bigger advantage can be had if you agree to pay by electronic method. It is really important to consider this – so many members get caught paying a few days late simply because they forgot, or paid by a cheque held up in the post.

Since 1 April 2010, HMRC will only treat a cheque as received when cleared funds reach their bank account. This is a major change and will make many more cheques ‘late’. (Previously they treated a cheque as received when they received it in the post).

 Remember that even a BACS payment normally takes three bank working days to clear – and some take longer. The only ‘other electronic’ method that is immediate is CHAPS. Have a look at the extra time you get – and cash flow advantage – for an online VAT Direct Debit.

Due dates for paying VAT

Accounting period

Cheques by post must be cleared

Payment by online VAT direct debit

Payment by BACS or CHAPS

Apr – Jun 2010

30 July 2010

11 Aug 2010

6 Aug 2010

May – Jul 2010

31 Aug 2010

10 Sept 2010

7 Sept 2010

Jun – Aug 2010

30 Sept 2010

12 Oct 2010

7 Oct 2010

Jul – Sep 2010

29 Oct 2010

10 Nov 2010

5 Nov 2010

Aug – Oct 2010

30 Nov 2010

10 Dec 2010

7 Dec 2010

Sep – Nov 2010

31 Dec 2010

12 Jan 2011

7 Jan 2011

Oct – Dec 2010

31 Jan 2011

10 Feb 2011

7 Feb 2011

Nov – Jan 2011

28 Feb 2011

10 Mar 2011

7 Mar 2011

Dec – Feb 2011

31 Mar 2011

12 April 2011

7 April 2011

Jan – Mar 2011

29 April 2011

11 May 2011

6 May 2011

Feb – April 2011

31 May 2011

10 June 2011

7 June 2011

Mar – May 2011

30 June 2011

12 July 2011

7 July 2011

Just imagine a payment for the quarter July – September 2010. A cheque that was to be cleared funds by 29th October would probably have to be sent by 19th October at the latest to be safe. A VAT Direct Debit online would not need to be actioned until 10th November – giving an extra three weeks leeway.

If you would like to see the HMRC guidance go online to the Business Link website www.businesslink.gov.uk and type in VAT payments and deadlines. You can also create a calendar of your own VAT deadlines on the Business link website –

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