VAT in the media industry can be notoriously complex, and many
businesses end up paying too much or too little. But did you know that you can
actually get some of that money back on eligible expenses? A skilled media
accountant in London can help make value-added tax work for your media business
by planning for these situations. They can help you recover the tax on goods
used in your business on the date of VAT registration up to 4 years prior, as
well as recover the tax paid on services up to 6 months before the VAT
registration date.
Note that you can only reclaim VAT on expenses that are both
tax-deductible and directly related to your business operations. This includes
items such as IT equipment (work laptops, software) and professional services
(legal, security). Expenses related to employment, marketing, and travel are
often eligible for VAT recovery as well.
How to reclaim VAT for your media business
To initiate a VAT refund, you or your accountant must submit a
VAT return to HMRC every three months, detailing the VAT you've paid. You will
need to provide proof of payment for goods and services ideally through
original receipts or valid VAT invoices.
What if you don’t have receipts?
You can still pursue VAT recovery by providing alternative proof
of transaction, such as bank statements. However, you need to demonstrate that
the expenses were incurred specifically for your media business operations.
How a media accountant can help
It can be challenging to demonstrate that purchased goods and
services are directly for your media business. Invalid VAT invoices from
suppliers can also complicate your claims because HMRC will not accept them as valid proof of VAT paid, preventing
you from reclaiming that amount. Our media
accountant in London can help ensure
that all documentation is accurate. They can also handle the time-consuming
process of filing VAT returns so you can concentrate on your core business
activities.
Need help with tax refunds?
Schedule a meeting with a media accountant
in London today. Call 0208 914 8887 to
talk to our team here at Allenby Accountants.