Many individual and companies took advantage of the COVID-19 VAT payment deferral scheme which allowed them to defer VAT payments falling due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 until 31 March 2021. HMRC issued further guidance on the process of extending the deferral by a year to the end of January 2022.
The final deadline to opt in to the scheme is 21 June.
Key Facts
If you deferred VAT between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 and still have payments to make, you have two options in respect of the deferred VAT not paid before 31 March 2021 :
- opt in to the VAT deferral new payment scheme before 21 June
- contact HMRC for more help to pay.
Opt in to the VAT deferral payment scheme
Instead of paying the full amount by the end of March 2021, up to 8 smaller monthly instalments can be made, interest free. All instalments must be paid by the end of January 2022.
The scheme will allow you to:
- pay deferred VAT in instalments without adding interest
- select the number of instalments from 2 to 8 equal monthly payments.
To use this scheme, you must:
- still have deferred VAT to pay
- be up to date with VAT return declarations
- be able to pay the deferred VAT by Direct Debit.
How to opt in
To use this scheme you must both opt in before 21 June and pay the first instalment when you opt in
If you opt in to the scheme, you can still have a time to pay arrangement for other HMRC debts and outstanding tax.
The link to participate in this scheme is below (you will need a Government Gateway set up if you do not already have one).
To set up a government gateway you will need to use the following link to set up the service – https://www.access.service.gov.uk/login/signin/creds
You will need to select “Create sign in details”
You will need your VAT number
Your last VAT return submitted quarter date
Your last VAT return box 5 figure
Your VAT certificate with registration date
To then defer the VAT please use the following link. The sooner you set this deferment the better as you will get longer to spread the payment.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/deferral-of-vat-payments-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19
Once your gateway is set up click “Join the scheme now” button
SRC-Time are one of the South East’s leading accountancy firms in advising businesses in all aspects of their accounting and tax affairs and we are able to assist in any issue raised above.
Our expert team is available to provide you with advice and can be contacted on 01273 326 556 or you can drop us an email at info@src-time.co.uk or speak with an account manager to get any process started.
