VAT RETURNS & COMPLIANCE

VAT Returns Prepared, Reviewed and Filed Properly

VAT compliance starts with accurate accounting records and appropriate VAT treatment. We help businesses understand the work needed to prepare, review and submit their VAT returns properly.

First4Accounting can provide anything from professional review and submission of a straightforward, fully prepared VAT return to wider bookkeeping, reconciliation and VAT support where required. We agree the engagement according to the records supplied and the work involved.

Our VAT return service starts from £99 only for a very basic, clean, submission-ready return with complete, accurate, reconciled and fully up-to-date accounting records. Bookkeeping, corrections, accounting adjustments, investigation of discrepancies and specialist VAT advice are not included in that starting fee.

WHO WE HELP

VAT Support for Different Types of Business

We support businesses with different activities and levels of accounting support. The work and fee depend on the quality of the records, transaction volume, complexity and the scope agreed.

Limited Companies

VAT return review and submission for limited companies with prepared records, with additional accounting or VAT work agreed separately where needed.

Sole Traders

Practical VAT support for sole traders, from reviewing a clean, prepared return to separately scoped help with the underlying records.

Partnerships & LLPs

VAT return and records support for partnerships and LLPs, based on their activities, records and agreed requirements.

Retail & Online Businesses

Support with VAT return figures and relevant records for retail and online businesses. More complex transactions or discrepancies may require additional work.

Property & Other Businesses with VAT Requirements

VAT support for property and other businesses where relevant. Unusual transactions and questions about VAT treatment are reviewed and scoped separately.

Businesses Requiring Bookkeeping & VAT Support

Help for businesses whose records are not yet submission-ready, with bookkeeping, reconciliations and accounting-system support agreed separately.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW & CLIENT APPROVAL

Professional Responsibility — Even for a Straightforward Return

Even a straightforward £99 VAT return involves professional responsibility. First4Accounting reviews the completed return and relevant information within the agreed scope before submission. Client review, approval and the required declaration or authorisation are part of the process.

PROVIDE COMPLETE RECORDS

Provide the prepared VAT return and relevant supporting information, with accounting records complete, accurate, reconciled and up to date. We explain the information needed for the agreed review.

REVIEW & RESOLVE

We review the return and relevant information within the agreed scope. Errors, unexplained differences, missing information or other matters requiring further work must be resolved before submission.

CLIENT REVIEW & APPROVAL

The client must review and approve the VAT return and provide the required declaration or authorisation before we submit it to HMRC. We explain the approval process without substituting our review for the client’s responsibilities.

SUBMIT WHEN AUTHORISED

We electronically submit the approved return to HMRC within the agreed engagement once the required approval and authorisation are in place and outstanding matters have been resolved.

We Do Not Simply Submit Figures Without Review

The starting fee covers a professional review and submission service for a clean, prepared return. We do not simply transmit figures without appropriate review of the return and relevant information within the agreed scope.

Our review does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of records supplied by the client. Additional work identified during the review may be quoted separately and must be resolved before submission.

VAT RETURN SERVICE

Appropriate Review Before Submission

A straightforward engagement can include the following review and submission work. The records and return must already be prepared to the standard described in our starting-price conditions; the engagement sets out the precise scope.

A Straightforward VAT Return Service

Review of the VAT return figures supplied
Reasonableness and consistency checks
Review of relevant VAT control and reconciliation information supplied
Identification of queries or apparent discrepancies
Client review and approval before submission
Electronic submission to HMRC within the agreed engagement

The £99 starting price assumes that the underlying accounting records are complete, accurate, reconciled and fully up to date. Preparing or correcting those records is separate work.

A Clear Process & Agreed Scope

Complete, accurate and up-to-date records supplied by the client
Appropriate professional review within the agreed scope
Queries and outstanding matters resolved before submission
Client review and approval of the VAT return
Required declaration or authorisation before submission
Electronic submission of the approved return within the agreed engagement

Appropriate professional review is required even where a return appears straightforward. If queries reveal further work, we explain the issue and agree the additional scope and fee before proceeding.

What If the Review Identifies a Problem?

Errors, unexplained differences, missing information or apparent discrepancies must be resolved before submission. Depending on the issue, this may require further records, bookkeeping, corrections, reconciliations or separate advice.

Additional work is separately scoped and charged. A return requiring investigation or material corrections does not qualify for the clean, submission-ready £99 starting service.

BOOKKEEPING & ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS

Cleaner Records, a More Efficient VAT Process

First4Accounting can also assist businesses whose records are not yet submission-ready. Bookkeeping, reconciliations and accounting-system support are separate services, agreed according to transaction volume, the quality of the records and complexity.

Bookkeeping

We can assist with recording and organising transactions where required. This is additional work, rather than part of the basic review and submission fee.

Reconciliations

Bank, VAT control and other relevant account reconciliations help establish the figures behind a return. Completing or correcting reconciliations is separately agreed work.

Accounting-System Support

We can assist with practical accounting-system arrangements and processes appropriate to the business. The support required is scoped separately from a clean VAT return review.

Making Tax Digital for VAT

DIGITAL RECORDS

VAT record keeping and submission increasingly depend on appropriate digital accounting records that support the return figures.

COMPATIBLE PROCESSES

A workable process should connect the accounting records, return preparation, professional review and approved submission.

PRACTICAL SUPPORT

First4Accounting can assist with practical digital record keeping and accounting-system arrangements where required, with the scope agreed for your business.

We confirm the practical support required for your circumstances. Specific MTD rules, exemptions, software requirements and technical obligations should be checked separately before relying on them.

Not Yet Submission-Ready?

Our objective is to help you develop cleaner records and a more efficient VAT process, rather than repeatedly correcting the same problems at each VAT period. Contact us to agree the support your business needs.

STRAIGHTFORWARD PRICING

VAT Returns — From £99

£99 is a starting fee for a very basic, clean, straightforward VAT return that is ready for professional review and submission. It is not the normal or standard fee for every VAT return. The actual fee depends on the records, complexity and work required.

VAT RETURN REVIEW & SUBMISSION

From £99

The £99 starting price applies only where the underlying accounting records are complete, accurate, reconciled and fully up to date, and the return is essentially ready for professional review and submission. It assumes all of the following:

All relevant transactions have already been properly recorded
Bank and relevant control accounts are reconciled
VAT coding and treatment have already been dealt with correctly
There are no missing records or unresolved bookkeeping matters
No material corrections or accounting adjustments are required
No investigation of discrepancies is required
No specialist VAT advice is required

The starting fee includes appropriate review within the agreed scope, followed by submission only after client approval and the required authorisation. Bookkeeping, reconstruction, corrections, accounting adjustments, discrepancy investigation and specialist VAT advice are excluded from the £99 starting service.

Additional Services When You Need Them

Where the records or circumstances require further work, it is separately scoped and charged. We discuss what needs attention and agree the additional work before proceeding.

Bookkeeping & Reconciliations

Bookkeeping, bank reconciliations and VAT control account reconciliations are separate services when the records are not already complete and reconciled.

Corrections & Missing Records

Correcting transactions or VAT coding and obtaining missing documents involve work beyond reviewing a clean, prepared return.

Discrepancies & Accounting Adjustments

Investigating differences and making accounting adjustments are additional work. Identified matters need to be resolved before submission.

Registration & Specialist VAT Advice

VAT registration, deregistration and specialist advice, including unusual transactions, are quoted according to the circumstances and work involved.

HMRC Correspondence & Ongoing Support

Correspondence with HMRC and continuing bookkeeping or VAT support can be agreed separately according to your requirements.

No Unexpected Additional Work

If the review identifies work outside the agreed scope, we explain the issue and discuss the additional scope and fee before proceeding.

WHEN £99 DOES NOT APPLY

The quality of the records determines the work required — and therefore the fee.

Reviewing and submitting a clean VAT return is fundamentally different from reconstructing, correcting or completing the underlying accounting records. The quality of those records determines the work required and therefore the fee.

Additional Work Is Separately Scoped & Charged

The £99 starting service does not cover the following additional work. Where needed, we agree the scope and fee according to the records, transaction volume and complexity:

Bookkeeping
Bank reconciliations
VAT control account reconciliations
Corrections to transactions or VAT coding
Investigation of discrepancies
Missing-document work
Accounting adjustments
Advice concerning unusual transactions
VAT registration or deregistration work
Specialist VAT advice
Correspondence with HMRC

We assess the work required rather than treating £99 as a standard fee. Errors, unexplained differences, missing information and other matters requiring further work must be resolved before the VAT return is submitted.

VAT RETURNS & COMPLIANCE FAQs

Questions We Are Often Asked

Answers to common questions about VAT return review, records, pricing, client approval and additional support. We confirm the precise engagement and any current technical requirements for your circumstances.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A £99 VAT RETURN?

The starting service is for a very basic, clean, prepared return. It can include review of the figures and relevant information supplied, reasonableness and consistency checks, queries, and electronic submission within the agreed engagement after client approval and authorisation. The underlying records must already be complete, accurate, reconciled and up to date.

WHY DO VAT RETURN FEES START FROM £99?

£99 is a starting fee for a straightforward, submission-ready return, not a normal or standard fee for every business. It assumes correctly recorded transactions and VAT treatment, reconciled accounts, no missing records, and no material corrections, adjustments, discrepancy investigation or specialist advice.

WHAT RECORDS DO I NEED TO PROVIDE?

We confirm the information needed for the engagement. This can include the prepared VAT return figures, relevant accounting records, bank and VAT control reconciliations and supporting information. The £99 starting service assumes these records are complete, accurate and up to date.

DO MY ACCOUNTING RECORDS NEED TO BE RECONCILED?

Yes, for the £99 starting service, bank and relevant control accounts must already be reconciled. Completing or correcting bank or VAT control reconciliations is separately scoped and charged work.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU FIND ERRORS?

We raise the issue with you. Errors, unexplained differences, missing information and other matters requiring further work must be resolved before submission. We discuss any additional work and fee before proceeding.

IS BOOKKEEPING INCLUDED IN THE £99 FEE?

No. The £99 starting fee assumes the bookkeeping is already complete and accurate. Recording transactions, reconstructing records, reconciliations, corrections and accounting adjustments are separate services.

CAN YOU CORRECT MY VAT RECORDS?

We can discuss corrections to transactions, VAT coding and supporting records. The work is assessed and agreed separately according to the issues involved; it is not part of the clean, submission-ready £99 starting service.

CAN YOU HELP WITH MAKING TAX DIGITAL FOR VAT?

We can assist with practical digital record keeping and accounting-system arrangements where required. We review your circumstances and confirm the relevant technical requirements and scope separately, rather than assuming one process suits every business.

CAN YOU DEAL WITH VAT REGISTRATION AND DEREGISTRATION?

We can discuss registration or deregistration work and the information and advice needed for your circumstances. This is separately agreed work and is not included in the £99 VAT return starting fee.

CAN YOU ADVISE WHETHER MY BUSINESS SHOULD REGISTER FOR VAT?

We can review the business’s circumstances and discuss the practical and tax implications as a separate advisory engagement. Any advice needs to consider the current requirements and relevant facts; a generic webpage cannot determine your position.

CAN YOU HELP WITH UNUSUAL OR COMPLICATED VAT TRANSACTIONS?

We can discuss the transaction and establish the review or specialist advice required. Unusual or complex VAT matters are separately scoped and charged and are not automatically included in a straightforward VAT return fee.

DO I APPROVE THE VAT RETURN BEFORE YOU SUBMIT IT?

Yes. You must review and approve the VAT return and provide the required declaration or authorisation before First4Accounting submits it to HMRC. We explain the approval process for the engagement; outstanding matters must be resolved first.

CAN YOU TAKE OVER VAT RETURNS FROM ANOTHER ACCOUNTANT?

We can discuss taking over the work, review the records and outstanding matters, and agree the transition arrangements and scope. Any bookkeeping gaps, corrections or other additional work are identified and agreed separately.

CAN YOU ASSIST WITH HMRC VAT ENQUIRIES?

We can discuss assistance with HMRC VAT queries or enquiries. Correspondence, investigation work and any specialist advice are separately scoped and charged; they are not included in the £99 review and submission starting fee.

CAN YOU PROVIDE ONGOING BOOKKEEPING AND VAT SUPPORT?

Yes. We can agree bookkeeping, reconciliations, accounting-system support and VAT work according to transaction volume, record quality and complexity. The objective is cleaner records and a more efficient recurring VAT process, with each service’s scope and fee clear.