Your VAT returns handled correctly, on time, every time.
VAT can be one of the more punishing areas to get wrong — penalties stack up quickly and HMRC’s MTD requirements have added a layer of complexity that catches a lot of small businesses out. Fees are fixed to your situation, discussed on a free discovery call. Annabel is AAT Licensed. Every enquiry comes back within one working day.
- MTD-compliant returns filed before the deadline, without chasing you
- VAT scheme reviewed — flat rate, cash accounting, standard — so you pay no more than you should
- HMRC correspondence handled, so it does not sit in a drawer getting worse
- VAT-ready bookkeeping via Xero means no scramble every quarter
No long-term contract. If it is not working after three months, you leave with your VAT records in order and nothing owed.
Get a free quote
Fixed pricing. Response within one working day.
What our clients say
★★★★★
Fixed Mistakes, Saved Thousands
“She has fixed so many lazy, unprofessional mistakes by my old accountant by being so meticulously thorough, offering amazing business advice & has saved me thousands.”
★★★★★
Switching Made Smooth and Simple
“She has made the whole process of changing accountants so smooth and stress-free. Her step-by-step guidance and clear communication made everything easy to follow.”
★★★★★
Set My Mind at Ease
“The support and advice I have had has been extremely helpful and has set my mind at ease knowing that any problems or queries I have will be handled or answered.”
★★★★★
Genuinely Cares, Meticulously Thorough
“I 100% trust Annabel & she proves time & time again why it was the best move for my business to switch to her.”
VAT quarter creeping up on you again?
For most small businesses, VAT returns happen four times a year and feel like an unwelcome surprise each time. Records are not quite where they need to be, Making Tax Digital requirements are either unclear or quietly ignored, and the quarterly deadline is something to dread rather than simply deal with. None of this is unusual. It is also largely avoidable.
- VAT deadline arriving before the bookkeeping has caught up with it
- No confidence that the VAT scheme you are on is actually the right one
- HMRC correspondence or penalty notices left unresolved because they feel too complicated to tackle
What a tidy VAT position looks like
When the bookkeeping is current and the return is prepared properly, the VAT deadline becomes administrative rather than stressful. You know what is owed before HMRC tells you, and the right scheme means you are not overpaying quietly.
- VAT-ready Xero records maintained monthly — no catch-up needed at quarter-end
- VAT scheme reviewed and confirmed to be the most appropriate for your turnover and margin
- HMRC liaison handled directly — correspondence answered, penalties disputed where warranted
- Fixed, agreed fee — no surprise charges for extra queries or HMRC back-and-forth
What clients say after switching to us
Both reviews below came from clients who had previously been let down by their accountant — and found the process of switching considerably less painful than expected.
I switched accountants to work with Annabel because I felt she truly cared about helping businesses to take control of their finances. She opened my eyes to how an accountant actually should work with you! She has fixed so many lazy, unprofessional mistakes by my old accountant by being so meticulously thorough, offering amazing business advice & has saved me thousands!
Working with Annabel has been fantastic. She has made the whole process of changing accountants so smooth and stress-free. Her step-by-step guidance and clear communication made everything easy to follow, even for someone who does not naturally “speak accounts.”
VAT returns and what sits around them
The return itself is straightforward when the foundations are right. Here is what is included and why each part matters.
MTD-Compliant VAT Returns, Filed
Quarterly VAT returns prepared and submitted through MTD-compatible software — Xero — so the filing is compliant and on time, every quarter. The return is reviewed before submission and you see the figures before anything goes to HMRC. No surprises, no late penalties.
Included as standardVAT Scheme Advice That Saves Money
Not every business is on the right VAT scheme. The difference between standard VAT, the flat rate scheme and cash accounting can be material — particularly for businesses with variable margins or delayed payment terms. Your scheme is reviewed at the outset and flagged if it should change.
Reviewed at onboardingVAT-Ready Bookkeeping via Xero
Clean, up-to-date records in Xero mean the VAT return takes minutes to prepare rather than days to reconstruct. Bank feeds, reconciliations and transaction coding are kept current every month — so the quarter-end is never a scramble. Xero training is available if you want to stay close to the numbers yourself.
Cloud-based, real-timeConsistent across different types of client
Start-up founders, businesses switching accountants, and growing companies with more complex needs — the feedback tends to cover the same ground: clarity, thoroughness, and things actually getting done.
Set Her Mind at Ease From Day One
“I have recently had the pleasure of the wonderful service of Annabel, appointed as my bookkeeper and accountant. Having never been self employed or a limited company before, the support and advice I have had has been extremely helpful and has set my mind at ease knowing that any problems or queries I have will be handled or answered.”
Thorough Enough to Catch Years of Errors
“She has fixed so many lazy, unprofessional mistakes by my old accountant by being so meticulously thorough, offering amazing business advice & has saved me thousands! She even went through my dad’s accounts who had been through liquidation & had a really tough time just because she cared & wanted to see if she could help.”
Clear Communication, Even Without Accounts Knowledge
“Annabel’s energy, passion, and genuine desire to help people understand their business finances really shine through in everything she does. Her support and knowledge have been superb, and I now see her as a vital part of my business and its continued growth.”
What makes the difference on VAT
Most accountants will file your VAT return. Fewer will catch the scheme problem that has been costing you quietly for two years.
The Return Is Reviewed, Not Just Filed
Each return is prepared and reviewed before submission — not pushed through a portal on deadline day. Unusual figures get questioned. Input tax claims are checked. The aim is that nothing goes to HMRC that should not. That is a different thing from simply processing what is in front of you.
Scheme Advice Included, Not Extra
VAT scheme selection is reviewed at onboarding and monitored as your turnover changes. Moving from the flat rate scheme to standard VAT at the right moment — or the wrong one — can mean a meaningful difference to your quarterly bill. That conversation is part of the service, not a separate advisory engagement.
MTD Handled Through Xero, Always
Making Tax Digital for VAT requires digital records and digital submission. Xero handles both, and it is set up and maintained as part of the service. You do not need to understand the MTD rules — you need your accountant to, and to have already sorted it. Which is the case here.
Up and running in three steps
Most clients are set up and have their first VAT return covered within a few weeks of that first call. The handover is handled at our end.
Free discovery call
A free, no-obligation 20 to 30 minute call. Annabel asks about your business, your current VAT setup and what has been causing you the most friction. No scripts, no pitch deck. You will leave the call knowing exactly what happens next — which is more than most people know going in.
Tailored proposal, clear fee
A proposal scoped to your specific situation — not a template tier. The fee is agreed upfront, there are no surprise charges for HMRC back-and-forth, and you know exactly what is included before anything starts.
We handle the handover
We take over from your previous accountant or your current setup — requesting records, migrating to Xero if needed, and making sure the VAT position is clear from day one. The admin involved in switching is handled at our end, not yours.
VAT quarters dealt with
Every quarter, your return is prepared, reviewed and filed on time. You see the figures before anything is submitted. Your VAT threshold is monitored — you will not wake up to a registration obligation you were not expecting. Which is, frankly, the way it should be.
“I have recently had the pleasure of the wonderful service of Annabel, appointed as my bookkeeper and accountant. Having never been self employed or a limited company before, the support and advice I have had has been extremely helpful and has set my mind at ease knowing that any problems or queries I have will be handled or answered. Friendly, supportive and very quick to respond to any queries or sort advice. I would 100% recommend.”
Things people usually ask about VAT
Do you handle Making Tax Digital for VAT, or do I need to sort that separately?
MTD compliance is part of the service, not an add-on. Digital record-keeping and digital submission through Xero satisfy the MTD requirements — you do not need to set anything up yourself or understand the technical detail of the regulations. If your current records are not MTD-ready, migration is handled at onboarding.
What does VAT return preparation cost, and what exactly is included?
Fees are scoped to your specific situation — turnover, transaction volume, whether bookkeeping is included or just the return preparation — and agreed before anything starts. There is no pricing published on the website because a fixed tier rarely reflects what a particular business actually needs. The free discovery call is the right place to get a clear number. There are no surprise charges for HMRC queries or scheme reviews.
My books are behind. Can you still take over the VAT?
Yes, and it is not unusual. Most businesses arriving at this point have a backlog of some description. The first step is understanding how far behind things are and what the catch-up involves — that is covered on the discovery call. Catch-up work is scoped and priced separately from the ongoing service so you know what it costs before committing.
Is there a minimum contract term?
No long-term contract. If the arrangement is not working after three months, you leave with your VAT records in order and nothing owed. In practice, clients tend to stay because the work is done properly and on time — not because they are locked in.
Can you advise on whether the flat rate scheme is still right for my business?
Yes, and it is worth checking. The flat rate scheme is beneficial for some businesses and quietly costly for others — particularly where input tax claims on purchases are significant, or where the flat rate percentage exceeds the effective rate. This is reviewed at the outset and flagged if your circumstances change.
How will I know what my VAT bill is going to be before the quarter ends?
Because the bookkeeping is maintained monthly in Xero, the VAT position is visible throughout the quarter — not just at deadline day. You can see where the output and input tax sits at any point. There are no surprises when the return is prepared, which means you have time to manage the cash position before the payment date.
Stop dreading the VAT deadline. Let us handle it.
MTD-compliant VAT returns, scheme advice and clean Xero bookkeeping — scoped to your business, fixed fee, no surprises. Free discovery call, no obligation.