| Guvnor

Your VAT return brings together your output VAT, from your retail scheme and any trade invoices, and your input VAT, from supplier invoices, to work out what you owe HMRC or can reclaim.

Box 1 (output VAT) takes the VAT calculated by your retail scheme, plus the VAT on any VAT invoices you issued to trade customers.
Box 4 (input VAT) takes the VAT on your supplier invoices, as for any business.
Box 6 (sales) takes total sales excluding VAT, both retail and trade.

Keep daily gross takings records to support the figures.

VAT return deadlines

The deadline for your online return and payment is usually one calendar month and 7 days after the end of your VAT period.

Standard quarterly return deadline: 1 calendar month and 7 days after the end of the VAT accounting period
Monthly return deadline: 1 calendar month and 7 days after the end of each monthly period
Payment deadline: Same date as the return; VAT is paid electronically
Weekends and bank holidays: Return and payment must still reach HMRC by the deadline

Making Tax Digital

VAT-registered businesses must keep digital VAT records and submit returns using Making Tax Digital compatible software, unless they are exempt.

Annual Accounting Scheme: advance payments: 9 monthly (10% each) or 3 quarterly (25% each), based on your last return
Annual Accounting Scheme: return deadline: 2 months after the end of the annual accounting period
Annual Accounting Scheme: balancing payment: Due with the return, within 2 months of the period end
Annual Accounting Scheme: eligibility: Estimated VAT-taxable turnover of £1.35 million or less in the next 12 months

Non-standard VAT periods

HMRC may allow or direct returns for periods of one month, or change the length of a period or the date a return is due. Different rules and penalty point thresholds apply to non-standard periods.

Late submission penalties: One penalty point per late return; £200 at the threshold (quarterly returns: 4 points)
Late payment interest: From the day after the due date at Bank of England base rate plus 4% (from 6 April 2025)
Record keeping: At least 6 years (10 years for the VAT One Stop Shop)

Submit your VAT Return (opens in a new tab)

VAT Annual Accounting Scheme (opens in a new tab)

How to complete your VAT return

What goes in each box, common mistakes, deadlines and Making Tax Digital

Complete and submit VAT returns

How to complete your VAT return