Changing VAT quarters

[Kitty Kat]

I assume if I were to write to HMRC to request a change in the VAT quarters (to match the company year ends) they would generally not have any problems with it?

And I assume they would then lengthen/shorten a quarter to match the new quarter end, so I would just put 2 or 4 months figures onto that return then carry on as normal.

[Generix]

I assume if I were to write to HMRC to request a change in the VAT quarters (to match the company year ends) they would generally not have any problems with it?

And I assume they would then lengthen/shorten a quarter to match the new quarter end, so I would just put 2 or 4 months figures onto that return then carry on as normal.

Yes - make sure you state in your request it is in order to match the businesses financial year end/monthly reporting etc.

If you give no reason or tell them it is to gain a cashflow advantage they may either query or reject it.

I've never had a request queried / denied when I have changed staggers, even when doing it to get a massive cashflow benefit I told them it was to avoid other quarterly reporting dates, so that enough resource could be put to the VAT return etc.

[Kitty Kat]

Thanks, one of the rare times I could use 'coterminous' in a letter

[robbob]

HMRC are actively encouraging (well last vat lady i spoke to asked our client to change) businesses to align the periods with the year end.
This has the massive advantage for them that they can "easily" do vat checks for each accounts year and spot any errors, when the periods are out of alignment this job is made much more complicated.
Note vat484 form has the facility to request change in vat periods so it may be simplest to request by this route.
http://search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kbroker/hmrc/forms/viewform.jsp?formId=3229

[Kitty Kat]

Note vat484 form has the facility to request change in vat periods so it may be simplest to request by this route.
http://search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kbroker/hmrc/forms/viewform.jsp?formId=3229

Thanks, I will use that for the last few I need to do.

[Kitty Kat]

I hate it when I have a query and Google it, only to find the answer in a thread I started 8 months ago, meaning I am not learning...