Don't forget VAT Payments Return from 1 July 2020
The VAT payment deferment holiday has been great for businesses but it all came to an end on 30 June 2020. Don't forget that your next VAT payment might be due sooner than you think...
It's been a welcome break in not having to pay VAT in line with the temporary VAT payment holiday that Rishi Sunak kindly granted as part of the Coronavirus package of measures to assist UK businesses with their cashflow.
Unfortunately, the government assistance for businesses is now starting to rein back with effect from 30 June 2020.
As well as changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, we are also now outside the VAT payment deferment period that ended on 30 June 2020.
This means that if you have a VAT period ended 31 May 2020 then your payment will be due on 7 July 2020 as normal.
It doesn't matter that the 31 May VAT quarter ended within the VAT deferment holiday - it is when the payment is due that is important for these purposes.
I can foresee many companies getting unwittingly tripped up by this technicality. Don't be one of them.
Also, if you have cancelled your VAT direct debit mandates with HMRC for the VAT holiday period, don't forget to get them reinstated (and be prepared to make a manual payment for your next payment if you can't get it restated in time).
Finally, don't lose sight of the VAT payments that you deferred during the VAT deferment period - the amounts deferred must be paid by 31 March 2021.
It was a holiday, not an exemption (!)
