Making a mistake in your VAT return is easily done. Maybe you missed something out accidentally or added up some figures wrongly. However, should this happen and you discover that you have made a mistake in a return which you have already filed, don’t panic
An unincorporated business pays tax on what is known as the `current year basis’. This means that, as a general rule, the profits for a tax year are taxed by reference to the profits for the 12 months to the accounting date that ends in that tax year.
The VAT flat rate scheme is a simplified VAT scheme, which allows small traders (turnover of £150,000 excluding VAT) to account for the VAT that they pay to HMRC by reference to a percentage of their VAT-inclusive turnover.
If you are a Limited Cost Business important changes to the VAT flat rate scheme are coming.
The VAT flat rate scheme is an optional simplified accounting scheme for small businesses. The scheme is available to businesses that are eligible to be registered for VAT and whose taxable turnover (excluding VAT) in the next year will be £150,000 or less.
It is sometimes mistakenly believed that you do not need to tell HMRC about payments that you receive in cash. This is not the case and regardless of whether you work for yourself or for someone else, earnings that you receive in cash are taxable in the same way as income paid by cheque, credit card or by bank transfer.