Category Archives: VAT

Creative business owner working out her VAT

What to do if you can’t pay your VAT bill on time

Last time, I wrote about dodgy adverts promising non-existent VAT loopholes.   But what if your VAT bill has arrived and you haven't got the full amount?   Before you do anything, breathe. There are options here, and there's a sensible order to go through them. What HMRC doesn't do is shout any of this [...]
Restaurant owner thinking about VAT

Why your accountant asks so many annoying questions about VAT

You know what? I'm going to be that accountant today. The one who's a right pain about VAT. The one who asks awkward questions and wants to see the receipts. The one who, when you suggest a creative approach to your VAT return, goes very quiet. I have a reason for being that person. It [...]

Children’s meals VAT cut: what it means for your hospitality business this summer

If you run a restaurant, café, or food-led pub and you have a children's menu, there's something worth knowing about this summer. The government has confirmed a temporary reduction in VAT on children's eat-in meals from the standard 20% down to 5%, running from the 25th of June to the 1st of September 2026. It's [...]