VAT registration can be mandatory or voluntary and it affects not just Limited Companies but Sole Traders and Partnerships as well.
You must register for VAT within 30 days if:
your VAT taxable turnover is more than £85,000 in a 12 month period
you receive goods in the UK from the EU worth more than £85,000
for distance selling (only goods not services) into the UK worth more than £70,000
for completing simplified EC Sales List £106,500 or less and supplies to EU countries of £11,000 or less
you expect to go over the threshold in a single 30 day period
VAT RESPONSIBILITIES
From the date HMRC appoints as Effective date of registration you must:
charge the right amount of VAT
pay any VAT due to HMRC
submit VAT Returns
keep VAT records for 6 years and a VAT account
VAT INVOICES
One of the most important task is that you always have to handle carefully invoices issued and received. You cannot reclaim VAT using invalid invoices and for that matter pro-forma invoices. Statements or delivery notes. Besides full VAT invoice you might be able to use modified or simplified invoices as well.
IMPORTANT! There are significant changes in the way you calculate and report VAT on prompt payment discount VAT invoices!
You can only issue a VAT invoice if you are VAT registered!
VAT RATES
Rate
% of VAT
What the rate applies to
Standard
20%
Most goods and services
Reduced rate
5%
Some goods and services, eg children’s car seats and home energy
Zero rate
0%
Zero-rated goods and services, eg most food and children’s clothes
Make sure you aware of the differences between Zero rate, Exempt and Out of scope and consequences of using them.
VAT ACCOUNT
Besides keeping your records physically and/or in a software you have to keep a separate account which is the VAT account. This account is the base for your VAT Returns.
It must show:
your total VAT sales
your total VAT purchases
the VAT you owe HMRC
the VAT you can reclaim from HMRC
if your business uses the VAT Flat Rate Scheme – the flat rate percentage and turnover it applies to
the VAT on any EU acquisitions (purchases) or dispatches (sales)
If your business have written down a VAT invoice as bad debt you also have to keep a separate VAT bad debt account.
VAT RETURN
Businesses usually submit a VAT Return to HMRC every 3 months based on their VAT Account online. The deadline for submitting the return online and paying HMRC are usually the same, 1 month and 7 days after the end of an accounting period. Failing to comply with the submitting requirements can result a penalty, this includes understatements, errors discovered and not reported or filing paper form when you are not exempt from submitting online.
Always calculate with time when you paying your tax bills.
VAT SCHEMES
VAT Schemes aim to simplify your VAT accounting, improve your cashflow and in the process you might save some tax for yourself. They target specific trade sectors or general business issues (eg quantity of transactions). If you not sure how you join or leave the schemes and which one can be combined with others please ask for help as mistakes can result in a much higher VAT bill than you would have expected.
VAT accounting scheme
Threshold to join scheme
Threshold to leave scheme
Flat Rate Scheme
£150,000 or less
More than £230,000
Cash Accounting Scheme
£1.35 million or less
More than £1.6 million
Annual Accounting Scheme
£1.35 million or less
More than £1.6 million
Flat Rate Scheme
This scheme is designed to help small businesses to reduce the amount of time they spend on accounting for VAT. At first glance it is very attractive but the devil lurks in the details.
Instead of the official VAT rate you calculate a lower, fixed rate set for your business type.
You can keep the difference between what you charge your customers and pay over to HMRC
You can get a first year discount of 1% off of your rate (special rules how to apply)
It can be combined with Annual Accounting
BUT in exchange
You cannot reclaim VAT on your purchases except for certain assets
You apply the rate on all your gross selling including zero rate, exempt and sales to other EU member States and even sales of second-hand goods!
Cash Accounting Scheme
Mainly for cash-flow reasons it sounds good to pay the VAT bill only if you have been paid by your customer, but choosing this scheme has some common pitfalls to it.
Your cashflow could improve especially if you have slow paying customers or bad debts
It can be combined with Annual Accounting to simplify matters further.
BUT
You cannot claim VAT on purchases until you have paid your suppliers
You lose control over your VAT calculation as you cannot control when you are being paid.
It is not beneficial if you are in a claiming position most of the time towards HMRC.
Annual Accounting Scheme
This scheme aims at simplifying your VAT matters by allowing you to submit only 1 return per year and paying set instalments of VAT on account quarterly (25%) or monthly (10%) with a balancing payment at the end of the year. You can combine the Annual Accounting Scheme with Flat Rate Scheme (joint application), Cash Accounting, Retail Schemes, Margin Schemes, Capital Goods Scheme and the Tour Operators margin scheme.
On the other hand
if you are usually in a claiming position towards HMRC you will have only one repayment at the end of the year
your set interim payments can be higher or much lower than you would have if you would account for VAT in a standard way resulting still a big sum at the end of the year or by overpaying and compromising your cashflow you will get your money back too late.
You still have to keep on top of your records to avoid surprises and to be able to respond to compliance checks.
Margin Scheme
A margin scheme is an optional method of accounting which allows you to calculate VAT on the value you add to the goods you sell, rather than on the full selling price. The Margin Schemes are optional, can be used at any time and you do not have to register for it and you can still use standard VAT Accounting for other sales and purchases such as overheads.
There are three margin schemes for goods:
The Margin Scheme for second-hand goods, works of art, antiques and collectors’ items
Global Accounting (instead of calculating the margin on each individual eligible items, you calculate on the total eligible sales and purchases instead.
The VAT Auctioneers’ Scheme
Retail Scheme
This scheme can be only used for retail sales only and designed to help businesses to record their sales who cannot reasonably be expected to account for VAT in a normal way. These businesses usually deal with a large number of non VAT registered customers with low value purchases and only be required to produce periodic totals of tax exclusive values and VAT. The retailer still produces normal VAT invoice to any VAT registered businesses and these latter invoices are not included in the scheme. It can be used with Annual Accounting Scheme and Cash Accounting Scheme
There are 3 standard VAT retail schemes:
Point of Sale Scheme – you identify and record the VAT at the time of sale
Apportionment Scheme – you buy goods for resale
Direct Calculation Scheme – you make a small proportion of sales at one VAT rate and the majority at another rate
There are special arrangements for:
Caterers
Pharmacists
Florists
If you think you need help your VAT matters please don’t hesitate contacting OptiAccounts>>HERE<<
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Privacy Policy
OptiAccounts
DATA PROTECTION PRIVACY NOTICE
Purpose
This Notice outlines the data protection policies and procedures we have adopted and to which we abide to ensure we are GDPR compliant. The purpose of this Notice and any other documents referred to in it, is to clearly list and identify the legal requirements, procedures and rights which must be established when we obtain, process, transfer and/or store your personal data. This Notice will assist you in understanding the obligations, responsibilities and rights which arise from the Data Protection Laws.
Introduction
Everyone has rights with regard to the way in which their personal data is handled. In order to operate efficiently we need to collate and use information about the people with whom we work. This includes current, past and prospective employees, clients, and others with whom we communicate.
We regard the lawful and correct treatment of personal information as integral to successful operation and to maintaining the confidence of the people we work and communicate with. To this end we fully endorse and adhere to the principles of the relevant Laws.
We are registered as a Data Controller on the Register kept by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Definitions in this Privacy Notice
Data: Information stored electronically, on a computer, server or in certain paper-based filing systems.
Data Controller: Eszter Petrinovics trading as OptiAccounts has determined the purposes for which, and the manner in which, your Personal Data is processed. The Data Controller has overall responsibility for compliance with the Data Protection Laws. Any questions about the operation of this Notice or any concerns that the Notice has not been followed should be referred in the first instance to Eszter Petrinovics at Apt 7 Worsley Court, 25-27 Worsley Road Swinton M27 5WN
Privacy Manager: Eszter Petrinovics is the appointed officer who is responsible for awareness-raising, training staff and informing and advising the Data Controller, Data Processors and Data Users how to ensure compliance with the enactments, and to monitor that compliance. Eszter Petrinovics can be contacted at Apt 7 Worsley Court, 25-27 Worsley Road Swinton M27 5WN
Data Processor: Any person or organisation that is not a Data User that processes personal data on our behalf and in accordance with our specific instructions. Our staff will be excluded from this definition but, the definition could include suppliers who handle personal data on our behalf.
Data Subjects: All living individuals about whom we hold Personal Data. All Data Subjects have legal rights concerning the processing and storage of their personal information.
Data users: Our employees whose work involves processing your Personal Data. Data users are responsible for the proper use of the data they process and must protect the data they handle in accordance with this Notice.
the Enactments: The Data Protection Act 1998 (the Act) up to and until 25 May 2018 after which The General Data Protection Regulations 2017 (GDPR) will apply, both of which regulate the way in which all Personal Data is held and processed.
Personal Data: Information which can be used to directly or indirectly identify a living individual.
Processing: Any activity in which the data is used, including (but not limited to) obtaining, recording, organising, amending, retrieving, using, disclosing, erasing, destroying and/or holding the data. The term “processing” also includes transferring personal data to third parties.
Supervisory Authority: The Authorised Body which is empowered to govern and manage how the GDPR is implemented and abided by in a particular EU state. In the case of the UK the Supervisory Authority is the: Information Commissioner’s Office.
Sensitive Personal Data:
This includes information about a person’s race, ethnicity, political opinions, convictions, religion, trade union membership, physical and/or mental health, and sexual preference. Sensitive personal data can only be processed with the express written consent of the person concerned
Notice Statement
In accordance with the GDPR anyone processing Personal Data must comply with the six principles of good practice. These provide that Personal Data must:
be processed fairly, lawfully and transparently;
only be used for the purpose for which it was collected;
be adequate, relevant and not excessive for the purpose for which it is being processed;
be accurate and kept up-to-date;
not be kept longer than necessary to fulfil the purpose of its collection; and
be kept secure and protected from unauthorised processing, loss, damage or destruction [which includes the data not being transferred to a country or territory outside the European Economic Area unless the Personal Data is adequately protected and/or consent of the Data Subject has been provided].
Fair, Lawful and Transparent Processing
For Personal Data to be processed lawfully, the basis for the processing must be one of the legal grounds set out in the Enactments. These include, among other things, your written consent to the processing, or that the processing is necessary for the performance of our bookkeeping contract with you.
In the event we collect Personal Data directly from you, this Notice should assist in informing you about:
The purpose or purposes for which we intend to process your Personal Data.
The types of third parties, if any, with which we may share or disclose your Personal Data.
The means with which you can limit our processing and disclosure of your Personal Data.
If we receive Personal Data about you from other sources, we will provide you with this information as soon as possible thereafter.
When sensitive personal data is being processed, additional conditions and securities must be in place to ensure protection.
Processing for Limited Purposes
In the course of our business, we shall process the Personal Data we receive directly from you (for example, by you completing forms, sending us papers or from you corresponding with us by mail, phone, email or otherwise) and your Personal Data which we receive from any other source.
We shall only process your Personal Data to fulfil and/or enable us to satisfy the terms of our obligations and responsibilities in our role as your Accountant or for any other specific purposes permitted by the Enactments. Should we deem it necessary to process your Personal Data for purposes outside and/or beyond the reasons for which it was originally collected, we will contact you first, to inform you of those purposes and our intent and may also apply for your consent.
Adequate, Relevant Non-Excessive Processing
We will only collect and process your Personal Data as required to fulfil the specific purpose/s of our contract and agreements with you.
Accurate and up to date data
We shall ensure that all Personal Data held is accurate and up to date and will check the accuracy of any Personal Data at the point of collection and at regular intervals afterwards. If you become aware that any of your Personal Data is inaccurate, you are entitled to contact us and request that your Personal Data is amended. We will take all reasonable steps to destroy or amend inaccurate or out-of-date data.
The Timely Processing of the Data
We will not keep Personal Data longer than is necessary for the purpose or purposes for which it was collected. Once Personal Data is no longer required, we will take all reasonable steps to destroy and erase it.
Keeping Your Personal Data Secure
Our employees and contracted personnel are bound to our privacy policies, procedures and technologies which maintain the security of all your Personal Data from the point of collection to the point of destruction.
We maintain data security by protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of your Personal Data, and when we do so we abide by the following definitions:
Confidentiality: We ensure that the only people authorised to use your personal data can access it.
Integrity: We will make certain that your Personal Data is accurate and suitable for the purpose for which it is processed.
Availability: We have established procedures which mean only our authorised Data Users should be able to access your Personal Data if they need it for authorised purposes.
We also maintain security procedures which include, but are not limited to:
Methods of disposal. Paper documents containing Personal Data are shredded and digital storage devices shall be physically destroyed when they are no longer required.
Data Users shall be appropriately trained and supervised in accordance with this Notice which include requirements that computer monitors do not show confidential information to passers-by and that Data Users log off from or lock their PC/electronic device when it is left unattended.
Our computers have appropriate password security, boundary firewalls and effective anti-malware defences. We routinely back-up electronic information to assist in restoring information in the event of disaster and our software is kept up-to-date with the latest security patches.
One or all of the following measures shall be applied to the personal data held;
separating the personal data and/or pseudonymisation and/or the encoding of the data
software products holding personal data have separate username and password in occasion you might have separate and own access to these products which will be your responsibility to have it kept secure
personal data might be also held on an external server through Microsoft SharePoint is accessed by clients’ own username and pw which will be your responsibility to have it kept secure
Our Privacy Manager will ensure that this Notice is kept updated in response to any amendments to the Law.
We shall take appropriate security measures against unlawful and/or unauthorised processing of personal data, and against the accidental loss of, or damage to, your Personal Data.
We shall only transfer your Personal Data to a Data Processor (a Data User outside our business) if the Processor agrees to comply with our procedures and policies, or if the Processor puts in place security measures to protect Personal Data, which we consider adequate and are in accordance with the Enactments.
Transferring the Personal Data out of the EEA
We shall only transfer any Personal Data we hold to a country outside the European Economic Area (“EEA”), if one of the following conditions applies:
The country to which your Personal Data shall be transferred ensures an adequate level of protection and can ensure your legal rights and freedoms.
You have given your consent that your Personal Data is transferred.
The transfer is necessary for one of the reasons set out in the Enactments, including the performance of a contract between you and us, or to protect your vital interests.
The transfer is legally required on important public interest grounds or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
The transfer is authorised by the ICO and we have received evidence of adequate safeguards being in place regarding the protection of your privacy, your fundamental rights and freedoms, and which allow your rights to be exercised.
The Personal data we hold may also be processed by staff operating outside the EEA who work for us or for one of our suppliers. Those Data Users may be engaged in, among other things, the fulfilment of contracts with you, such as the processing of payment details and/or the provision of support services.
How We Will Use Your Personal Data
We will only collect and process your Personal Data to the extent that it is needed to fulfil our operational and contractual needs or to comply with any legal requirements.
We shall access and use your Personal Data in accordance with your instructions and as is reasonably necessary:
to fulfill our contractual obligations and responsibilities to you;
to provide, maintain and improve our bookkeeping services;
if we intend to use your personal data for the advertising and marketing of our services and/or the services of our affiliates. We shall seek your separate express consent and you are entitled to opt out of these services at any time; and
to respond to your requests, queries and problems;
to inform you about any changes to our services and related notices, such as security and fraud notices.
When We May Share Your Personal Data
There are times when we may need to share your Personal Data. This section discusses how and when we might share your Data.
In the course of us fulfilling our role as your Accountant it will be necessary for us to disclose your Personal Data in certain situations:
In our role as your Accountant we may need to share your Personal Data with certain bodies to fulfill our contract with you such as your suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors, HMRC, ICB, The Pensions Regulator and other governmental, regulatory bodies.
We use the following software provider to process electronic data, including personal data: Quickbooks Online Accountant; Xero; Moneysoft Payroll Manager; Microsoft Office 365 Business, Microsoft Office Enterprise 2013; Microsoft SharePoint; VT Software; TaxFiler; HMRC Agent platform, NEST Workplace Pensions, True Potential Workplace Pensions, Smart Pensions Workplace Pensions. These providers state that they are GDPR compliant and/or applies equivalent/adequate safeguards.
We use secure external servers to process/store our electronic records, including your Personal Data which are maintained by Silicon Direct Ltd – Hungary.
There may also be situations in which it is necessary for us to disclose your Personal Data to other third parties, which include but are not limited to: Debt Collection Agencies, Other not listed workplace pension providers.
If we are under a duty to disclose or share your Personal Data in order to comply with any legal obligation, lawful requests, court orders and legal process.
To enforce or apply any contract or other agreement with
To protect our rights, property, or safety and that of our employees, members, or others, in the course of investigating and preventing money laundering and fraud.
Your Rights and Requests Concerning Your Personal Data
We will process and manage all your Personal Data in line with your rights; in particular your rights to:
request access to any data we hold about you;
prevent the processing of your Personal Data for direct-marketing purposes, if so instructed;
ask to have inaccurate Personal Data amended;
be forgotten, and have all relevant Personal Data erased (subject to our overriding legal obligations);
prevent processing which is likely to cause damage or distress to you or anyone else;
request certain restrictions on the processing of your Personal Data;
receive a copy of your Personal Data and/or request a transfer of your Personal Data to another Data Controller;
not be subject to automated decision making;
be notified of a data security breach which affects your rights and freedoms, without undue delay;
if you have provided your express consent that your Personal Data may be processed for marketing and advertising purposes, you are entitled to withdraw that consent. Such a withdrawal will not affect any processing of the data completed before consent was withdrawn; and
to make certain requests to us concerning how your Personal Data is managed.
Access and portability requests
You are entitled to request access to your Personal Data unless providing a copy would adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.
You can also request information about the different categories and purposes of data processing; recipients or categories of recipients who receive your Personal Data, details on how long your Personal Data is stored for, information on your Personal Data’s source and whether the Data Controller uses automated decision-making.
You also have “Data Portability” rights which includes the right to request a copy of your Personal Data be sent to you or transmitted to another Data Controller.
Correction requests
You are entitled to request we correct or complete your inaccurate or incomplete Personal Data without undue delay and we will update the information and erase or correct any inaccuracies as required.
Erasure requests
You can exercise your “right to be forgotten” and can request we erase your Personal Data. Once receiving a request we must erase the Personal Data without delay, unless an exception applies that permits us to continue processing your data. Details of such exceptions are contained in the Enactments and include situations where we might need to retain the information to carry out our official duties and/or comply with legal obligations and/or for the establishment of exercising or defending legal claims, or it is in the public interest to retain your Personal Data.
Restriction requests
You may request restrictions be applied to the processing of your Personal Data for some specific reasons such as you contest the accuracy of the data, the processing is unlawful or if we no longer need to process your Personal Data. You can also request restrictions be applied if the processing is being done for public interest or third party reasons.
If such a request is received we can continue to store your Personal Data, but may only process it under certain circumstances, such as: you give consent for us to continue processing your data, we need to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims or we need to protect the rights of another individual or legal entity or for important public interest reasons.
Objection requests
You may also object to your Personal Data being processed under certain circumstances, including for direct marketing purposes and profiling related to direct marketing.
If we receive such an objection we will stop processing your Personal Data unless we can show a compelling legitimate ground for processing your Personal Data which overrides your interests and the basis of your request.
Your Telephone Queries and Requests
When receiving telephone enquiries, in which Personal Data is requested we will only verbally disclose Personal Data held on our systems if we can confirm the caller’s identity so as to ensure that the data is only given to a person who is entitled to receive it.
We may suggest that a caller put their request in writing to assist in establishing the caller’s identity, and to enable us to clearly record the nature of the request and to assist in further identity checks.
If we have reasonable doubts about the identity of the person making the request, we may request additional information to confirm the caller’s identity.
In difficult situations our Data Users may refer a request to their line manager for assistance.
Your Written Queries and Requests
When responding to written requests Personal Data will only be disclosed if we can confirm the identity of the sender and/or sufficient supporting evidence is provided by the sender establishing their identity.
We will only send Personal Data to designated e-mail addresses which will be agreed on beforehand.
Responding to Your Requests
Upon receiving a request from you concerning your Personal Data, we will respond within one month of receiving the request by email (unless you request a response in an alternative format).
If we are unable to immediately comply with your request we will inform you within our response stating whether we need to extend our response time (for up to a maximum of two months), along with an explanation for the delay.
If we do not take any action within one month after receiving your request, you are entitled to request an explanation from us as to why no action was taken and you may make a complaint to the ICO: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF (Tel: 0303 123 1113) (email. casework@ico.org.uk)
When responding to Personal Data requests we will provide the information upon your payment of an administrative fixed fee of £10. Once the GDPR comes into force, we will not be entitled to charge for the provision of your personal data, unless the requests are manifestly unfounded or excessive, particularly if it is repetitive in which case we may refuse to act on the request, or apply further fees to cover the associated administrative costs.
Your Complaints
If you feel that your questions or concerns regarding your Personal Data have not been dealt with adequately or that your request has not been fulfilled by us, you can use our complaints procedure, by emailing us at info@optiaccounts.co.uk
If, at the conclusion of our complaints procedure you do not feel that we have adequately dealt with your complaint you may make a complaint directly to ICO: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF (Tel: 0303 123 1113) (email. casework@ico.org.uk).
Changes to our Data Protection Policy
We keep our privacy policy under regular review and reserve the right to amend and update the policy as required. Where appropriate, we will notify you of those changes by mail, email and/or by placing an updated version of the policy on our website.