HMRC streamlines penalties for late VAT return submission 

HMRC streamlines penalties for late VAT return submission

What you should be aware of going forward making on-time VAT returns by uploading to follow MTD rules. 

New MTD rules now in place for all backed by automatic penalty system to follow.

Bob Hutchinson Principal at Eros Business Consulting Ltd brings attention to the latest requirements by HMRC imposed on registered businesses.

“We have now passed the date where many optical businesses who are registered for VAT must post their returns online under the “Making Tax Digital” MTD rules that have now brought into their scope all registered business no matter what level of sales they record in a year. So many smaller businesses will be making their online return for the first time in the next few months. ” Commented Hutchinson

“At Eros for almost 20 years we have been supplying Excel based spreadsheets to clients after the successful negotiations are concluded with Local HMRC Officers to refine or confirm the businesses Full Cost Apportionment rate for spectacles, contact lens and hearing aid dispensing. This software includes an automatic check for de minimis which alerts the taxpayer if they are at risk of losing their purchase reclaim on input tax for purchases. At first, we were worried that MTD might affect our simple and cheap system for optical Accounting, it being Spreadsheet based, but after redesigning the “Vatcalculator” we have now used it successfully for over 3 years with api’s which transmit the vat return figures simply and cheaply. We designed the system so many practices or their bookkeepers can escape the need for expensive auditing and control their own calculations directly from practice management systems.”

At Eros we recognise the importance in businesses knowing your financial viability, pressures in the market and red lines on a current basis. Waiting for end of year accounts is not good practice. Our Vatcalculator puts practices back in control without heavy expenditure on accounting process systems that often do not provide the correct provision for retailers of apportioned goods.

Now more than ever will businesses need to be ready to make correct vat returns on time or risk automatic penalties.

The New Penalty System Proposed by HMRC

The new VAT penalty regime was due to be introduced for VAT return periods beginning on or after 1 April 2022, bringing VAT more closely in line with existing penalties which apply to direct tax returns, but introduction has now been deferred until January 2023. The delay is to enable HMRC extra time to make the necessary changes to their systems.

Currently there is no standalone late submission penalty for VAT; however, a Default Surcharge applies, which combines both late submission and late payment sanctions. On the first late return, a Surcharge Liability Notice (SLN) is issued which lasts for 12 months. If further defaults occur, the SLN period is extended and penalties of up to 15% of the tax due are levied, depending on the number of defaults.

The New Penalty Regime for Vat returns – periods starting on or after 1/1/23

Under the proposed changes, there will be a two-tier penalty system.

Firstly, there will be a late submission penalty:

– HMRC will issue a single penalty point for a late submission of a VAT return and once the business has exceeded a points threshold for multiple missed returns a flat penalty of £200 will be imposed for each late return.

The regime introduces a ‘standalone’ late submission penalty using a points-based system, depending on how often VAT returns are submitted. The system has been designed to penalise those who frequently file late returns, offering more leniency to those who make the occasional late submissions, thus making the system fairer.

The penalty thresholds will be as follows:

Points can be reset to zero by submitting all returns by the due date for a set period, which will mean: 24 months for annual filers, 12 months for quarterly filers and 6 months for monthly filers. AND must have filed all outstanding returns to HMRC for the previous 24 months.

Taxpayers will have one points total for each submission obligation they have.

For example, if a taxpayer is required to provide an annual ITSA (Income Tax Self-Assessment) return and quarterly VAT returns, they will have separate points totals for ITSA and VAT. If both returns are late, a point will be applied to the points total to which the return relates — one for the group of annual returns for the late ITSA return, and one for the group of quarterly returns for the late VAT return.

If both returns had an annual submission frequency, there would still be two separate points totals, one for ITSA and one for VAT, and the taxpayer would incur a single point for each if both returns were late.

Secondly, introduction of a two-part penalty system for late payments, so the sooner the VAT is paid, the lower the penalty rate will be charged. Late payment of tax due to HMRC, is calculated on the amount of tax outstanding and how long the late payment is overdue.

–          The first charge will be imposed at 2% of the outstanding tax if the tax due on a return remains unpaid 15 days after its due date.
If any of this tax is still unpaid after 30 days, the penalty increases to 4% of the tax still outstanding at that point.

If a ‘time to pay’ is agreed, the penalty will stop accruing from the date the proposal is submitted by the taxpayer.

–          The second charge is a daily penalty (set at 4% per year on the outstanding amount) starting from 31 days after its due date until the business pays the tax that is due.

HMRC have given a period for taxpayers to familiarise themselves with the new system and will not be charging a first late payment penalty for the first year from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2023, if paid in full within 30 days of the payment due date.

Further details are available and can be found on the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-upcoming-changes-to-vat-penalties-and-vat-interest-charges

Information supplied by Eros Business Consulting who are Long Term Headline Sponsors allowing PHN to provide a Free Opchat News