7 February 2016 - VAT Return quarter ended 31 December 2015 Filing and Payment Deadline

7 February 2016 - VAT Return quarter ended 31 December 2015 Filing and Payment Deadline

The tax calendar deadlines are never ending. In fact today's date is another important business tax deadline: VAT.

VAT stands for Value Added Tax and it is charged on items such as business sales of goods and services, commissions, sale of business assets.

You do not have to register for VAT unless your business income level hits the VAT threshold. The threshold is set by HMRC and the current level is £81,000 (2015).

Once your business income level rises above the threshold in the previous 12 rolling months, you must register for VAT. If your business income level is expected to rise above the threshold in the following 30 days, you must also register for VAT.

Registering for VAT with the HMRC offers many benefits to some businesses. Some are as follows:

1- VAT Registered businesses have more credibility than non-VAT registered businesses from the customers point of view.

2- VAT Registered businesses are able to claim the VAT on purchases that they have paid to their suppliers or on expenses they have paid for the business.

3-VAT Registered businesses that do business in the EU may be required to have a VAT Number.

In UK, there are 3 different rates of VAT, and there are many conditions that determine the rates. The most common rate is Standard Rate (20%), and there are also the Reduced Rate (5%) and Zero Rate (0%). The rate is set by the HMRC.

If your business is VAT Registered, you must declare the amount of VAT you have charged your customers and the amount of VAT you have paid for business-related goods and services.

The declaration of the figures is done through your VAT Return. 

This brings us back to the 7 February 2016 VAT deadline!

This deadline applies to the VAT period from 1 October 2015 to 31 December 2015. You must therefore declare the amount of VAT charged and VAT claimed on goods and services that arose during that 3 months period.

If you do have VAT to pay the HMRC, the amount must be paid by tonight, otherwise there will be interests accruing on the tax liability.

For further information, please contact us on 00 44 758 462 3239 or send an email to melanie.lck@gmail.com. Sign Up to receive Free Tips and checklists.

How to get Tax Refunds if you are employed and pay PAYE but did not file Self Assessment UK Tax Return 2015

How to get Tax Refunds if you are employed and pay PAYE but did not file Self Assessment UK Tax Return 2015

If you are employed and you have your Tax deducted by PAYE, you probably do not need to complete and file a Tax Return every year. 

However you may have paid too much Tax!

There are some expenses that enable you to get Tax Relief and if you do not complete and file a Tax Return, you may not have claimed the Tax Relief. If you have never claimed it before, there is likelihood that you have not had the Tax Relief at all. 

It is possible to get the Tax Refund you are due from HMRC, by completing and filing a Tax Return.

Below, I will list some of the expenses that will enable you to claim your Tax Relief.

1- Business Mileage
If you own your own vehicle and use it on business travels, and your employer reimburses you at less than the approved amount of 45p per mile for business mileage, you may get Tax Relief on the difference in mileage costs. If your employer does not provide you with any mileage allowance, you may get Tax Relief on the full approved amount of Mileage Allowance Relief.
If you use a company car on business travels, and your employer does not provide you with fuel allowance, and you personally pay for fuel costs, you may get Tax Relief on the fuel costs.

2- Uniform or Protective Clothing
If you work in an environment where wearing a uniform or protective clothing is an essential aspect of performing your work, and your employer does not provide you with any clothing allowances, and you pay for your own laundry expenses and other cleaning and repairing costs, you may get Tax Relief. The amount that you can get Tax Relief on has been set by the HMRC. The occupations and work environment that are relevant are also set by the HMRC.

3- Professional Subscriptions
If you are a member of a professional association, society and institution, and you pay for your own subscriptions, you may get Tax Relief on professional subscriptions costs. The associations, societies and institutions that are approved, are set by the HMRC.

4- Travel Expenses
If you have to travel on business trips for your work, and you personally pay for your food and drink, travel costs, overnight stay expenses, and other business related administrative expenses, you may get Tax Relief on these costs.

5- Pension Contributions
If you are paying your own Pension Contributions, and you are also a higher rate tax payer, you may get basic rate Tax Relief on the personal pension contributions. The level of income for higher rate tax payer is set by the HMRC.

6- Charity Donations
If you are paying some contributions to a charity and you can obtain an official documentation for your Charity Donations, and you are also a higher rate tax payer, you may get basic rate Tax Relief on the charity donations contributions. The level of income for higher rate tax payer is set by the HMRC.

The list is not exhaustive and there are certain rules and regulations applicable to most of these Expenses, so that they can enable you to get Tax Relief and Tax Refunds.

If you want to get Tax Relief and complete Tax Return 2015, you will need the documents that relate to the fiscal year from 6 April 2014 to 5 April 2015.

For further information, please contact us on 00 44 758 462 3239 or send an email to melanie.lck@gmail.com. Sign Up to receive Free Tips and checklists!