The VATman Cometh

One of life's certainties is that if you are a VAT registered business, sooner or later you will receive a visit from a HM Revenue & Customs officer. VAT officers, euphemistically called 'assurance officers', now have their performance evaluated partly on the basis of their success in collecting extra tax, some suspect that this is not unrelated to their increasingly aggressive attitude.

VAT control, or 'assurance' visits, as Customs prefers to call them, are an integral part of the system. Their main purpose is to ensure that your returns are an accurate reflection of your business activities and VAT liability. Every trader can expect a visit every few years as a matter of course.

However, their frequency is by no means predictable. You may find yourself singled out at any time if:

• You have a history of poor compliance
• There has been a change in the pattern of your VAT returns
• Your business is seen as high risk (e.g. a cash business)

Don't be caught out

The cost of being caught unawares by a VAT control visit can be considerable. You could find yourself facing:

• Hours of valuable time wasted
• Extra costs incurred in sorting out all the paperwork
• Potential penalties and interest charges
• The possibility of a follow-up enquiry by HM Revenue & Customs

A VAT control visit usually has two parts:

1. It begins with an interview, during which the officer will seek a broad understanding of your accounting system and general commercial activities. He or she will be looking for possible areas of weakness in your accounting records.
2. During the second part, the officer will examine your records to ensure that you have completed your returns correctly. Constraints of time will mean that he or she will probably focus on sensitive areas identified during the original interview.

If you are not prepared, or if you are not sure of your facts, a visit can be a daunting experience. We can make your life easier by attending the meetings and assisting with answering the questions. This could save you considerable time, expense, and inconvenience. As with most other things, a professional helping hand in this area can add real value to your business.