[gordonswindows]

We registered for vat on the flat rate scheme and its the best thing we have done.

We pay employers tax ni and liability. Our window cleaners are all licensed and insured and we felt it was only right to register for vat.

If you want to become successful within the commercial cleaning business you must be legal, professional and above all prepared to play things straight.

We have gained a great deal of extra business since registering with the vat man. It seems to give the client extra assurance that you are serious about what you do, experienced and trustworthy. As for paperwork a quarterly return completed with ease and a cheque sent in the post and thats that.

We "keep" the vat for three months then pass on 8.5% to the vat keeping the other 9%. And we claimed back back the full deposits on our last two new trucks.

Why anyone tries so hard to avoid registering is beyond me. If you are approaching or have surpassed the threshold be honest be clever use one of the few good things the Revenue offers us.

cheers
Gordon

[Alistair@AWC]

We "keep" the vat for three months then pass on 8.5% to the vat keeping the other 9%. And we claimed back back the full deposits on our last two new trucks.

Hi Gordon,

How does that work with the 8.5%, and how did you domestic customer (if you have any) react to the hike in cost

Regards

Al

[gordonswindows]

Hi Alistair

we don't do any domestics anymore so can't answer how they would react but the commercials who we had before registering understand that now we have no option but to charge the vat. Only one had a concern and they are a national charity but we met with them and our accountant and its all smooth now.

The 8.5% we get to keep is because on the flat rate scheme we do not claim for fuel vat nor any office supplies etc. Instead the Vat man allows us to keep the 8.5% as a flat rate and its swings and roundabouts. But the huge benefit is no paperwork, no recording of every little receipt for vat.

Before we registered we couldn't claim for any Vat relief anyway but now we keep an extra 8.5% of all invoices .In real terms we are able to make 8.5% more than last year for the same work.

Hard to explain but easy to do, thats the beauty of it, not all government departments are against you some do understand how hard it is to run a small business. The other benefit is any new purchase over £2500 and you can claim this vat back too.We claimed for the last two vans and even the vat on Glyns Gutter Vac.

Check the tax site for better info. I highly recomend registering.

Cheers

Gordon

[Moderator David@stives]

Alister what flat rate are you using 11% , 10% or 9 % , are you on your first year ?

In one post you said you keep 9% and on another you said 8.5%