With VAT returns having to be done online for most businesses from next month, we thought we'd share some practical tips on the registration process.
- The 'Government Gateway' system has some bugs, so it is easier to use the www.hmrc.gov.uk website: 'VAT online' is at the bottom of the left hand navigation
- When asked for your last VAT payment, they may not mean the last one, they may mean the one before that – have both figures to hand just in case
- When asked for shared secrets (!) they really do mean that your first school, last school and memorable place have to have numbers in them.
- They advise setting up the direct debit well in advance, because they can take a week to set up, which may mean if you leave it until doing the return, your payment is late
- If you bank with Lloyds, you will need to insert a 0 before your account number when completing the online direct debit form.