Submitting VAT return early/late

by **Kitty Kat** on Mon Dec 05, 2011 4:02 pm

A client has stumped me on what is probably a straight forward issue. Their quarter end is 31/12/11, so return by 31/01/12 and payment by 07/02/12.

However, the book-keeper/VAT return preparer is away from mid December until mid February. Is there a prescribed way forward in such circumstances, or is it a case of 'find someone else to submit it'? It clearly(?) won't be a reasonable excuse, but can they, say, submit the VAT return to mid December and then add the rest of December to the next return?

I don't know whether us doing this return is viable, I have never seen the clients VAT records so perhaps they would be incomprehensible to me!

by **Generix** on Mon Dec 05, 2011 4:31 pm

Kitty Kat wrote:A client has stumped me on what is probably a straight forward issue. Their quarter end is 31/12/11, so return by 31/01/12 and payment by 07/02/12.

However, the book-keeper/VAT return preparer is away from mid December until mid February. Is there a prescribed way forward in such circumstances, or is it a case of 'find someone else to submit it'? It clearly(?) won't be a reasonable excuse, but can they, say, submit the VAT return to mid December and then add the rest of December to the next return?

I don't know whether us doing this return is viable, I have never seen the clients VAT records so perhaps they would be incomprehensible to me!

Get someone else to do it is pretty much the answer. Which I guess is a good answer in your case, as the most likely and able candidate will be your firm/you. Presumably they have a monthly close preventing backdating of documents etc, so they can at least prepare the Oct and Nov figures so someone only has to replicate the process for Dec?

Once you know how to put a VAT return together you can pretty much do it for any business regardless of size. At worst just look at the balance sheet and take output VAT less input VAT

If this gets put onto you, give me a shout and I can guide you through it.

Pretty sure the payment and submission deadline is the same also , i.e. the 7 extra days.

Hope this is of use.

by **Kitty Kat** on Mon Dec 05, 2011 4:39 pm

Ta Generix. I'm less worried that I will not be able to fill in the return, more so that I will not have a clue how her book keeping works!

I'm glad you didn't suggest a way around this as I'd just told her she has to either give it us (whereupon I can also make sure she is doing it right based on the previous workings I will ask for) or find someone internally to do it.

This could be a good opportunity to at least check they are doing it right (I have a tendancy to mother clients and worry if they do things I can't see

)

by **Generix** on Mon Dec 05, 2011 4:56 pm

Kitty Kat wrote:Ta Generix. I'm less worried that I will not be able to fill in the return, more so that I will not have a clue how her book keeping works!

I'm glad you didn't suggest a way around this as I'd just told her she has to either give it us (whereupon I can also make sure she is doing it right based on the previous workings I will ask for) or find someone internally to do it.

This could be a good opportunity to at least check they are doing it right (I have a tendancy to mother clients and worry if they do things I can't see )

I would have a tendancy to do the same especially as the person doing the VAT in small/mid sized businesses is rarely a VAT specialist!