The purpose of this official VAT scheme is to simplify your VAT accounting and so reduce the cost of complying with your VAT obligations. In theory some businesses win and some lose when adopting this scheme. In practice you will only join it if you expect to benefit from so doing.
Before applying to use the scheme you should compare the amount of VAT you would be required to pay to HMRC as compared with how much would otherwise be payable. How does the scheme work? Normally the VAT you pay to HMRC is the difference between the VAT you charge your customers and the VAT you pay on your purchases. Using the Flat Rate Scheme you simply pay VAT as a fixed percentage of your VAT inclusive turnover. The actual percentage you use depends on your type of business. The amount of VAT you pay on your business expenses becomes irrelevant to your VAT returns. Turnover limits You can only apply to use the Flat Rate Scheme if you expect your annual taxable turnover in the next 12 months to be no more than £150,000, excluding VAT. Your annual taxable turnover is the total of everything that your business sells during the year. It includes standard, reduced rate or zero rate sales and other supplies. It excludes the actual VAT charged, VAT exempt sales and sales of any capital assets. Special rules apply if you sell capital assets worth more than £2,000. The turnover test applies to your expectations as regards business turnover in the coming 12 months. You should retain evidence of your calculations. Your forecast may be calculated in any reasonable way but would usually be based on the previous 12 months if you have been in business for at least a year. Once you join the scheme you can stay in until your total business income is more than £230,000 including VAT in a 12 month period. Who can’t join the scheme? You cannot join the Flat Rate Scheme if:
Notifying HMRC To join the scheme you must apply to HMRC. This can be done by post, email or phone. If your business needs to register for VAT you can apply for the Flat Rate Scheme at the same time. The necessary forms can be downloaded from HMRC’s website. Advantages & Disadvantages of the scheme Advantages
Disadvantages The scheme is unlikely to be beneficial for your business if you:
Other official VAT schemes Annual Accounting Scheme You can use the Flat Rate Scheme in conjunction with the Annual Accounting Scheme. Businesses that use the Annual Accounting Scheme make nine monthly or three quarterly interim payments throughout the year together with one VAT Return at the end of the year together with a balancing payment or refund. Cash Accounting Scheme You can’t use the Flat Rate Scheme with the Cash Accounting Scheme. However, the Flat Rate Scheme has its own cash based method for calculating turnover. Retail schemes You can’t use the Flat Rate Scheme with any of the retail schemes. However, the Flat Rate Scheme does have flat rates suitable for use by certain retailers. Invoicing customers and clients Your invoices will not change when you move onto the Flat Rate Scheme. You will continue to be required to issue valid VAT invoices in the usual way to all customers and clients. Record keeping Once you are using the Flat Rate Scheme you must keep a record of your flat rate calculations showing:
Businesses must still keep a VAT account although if the only VAT to be accounted for is that calculated under the scheme there will only be one entry for each period. Leaving the scheme You can leave the scheme at any time by notifying HMRC usually at the end of your next VAT accounting period. Businesses must also leave the scheme:
Businesses that leave the Flat Rate Scheme are unable to rejoin it for at least 12 months. Flat rate Scheme percentages Flat Rate Scheme percentage rates are set out in official tables and range from 4% to 14.5%. There are over 50 trade sectors and options on the table. The flat rate you should use will depend on which trade sector most accurately reflects your business. If your business includes supplies in two or more sectors, you should use the percentage that is appropriate to your main business activity as measured by expected turnover in the year ahead. Changes in the standard VAT rate When the VAT rate changes during a VAT accounting period, businesses will have to do the following calculations for that period:
First year discount Businesses benefit from a 1% reduction in the flat rate percentages for the first year of VAT registration. The discount continues to apply even if the flat rate percentage changes during the first year of registration. Capital assets If you use the Flat Rate Scheme, you can’t normally claim back the VAT you spend on capital assets you buy for your business. However, if you are spending £2,000 or more on individual assets you may be able to claim back the VAT if certain tests are satisfied. How we can help We would welcome the opportunity to advise you on any of the issues related to registering for the Flat Rate Scheme. We can also help you choose the most appropriate and beneficial flat rate and advise or help you with your VAT record keeping generally. We can also help you retain all the related necessary information to support your approach and so avoid penalties and problems down the line. |