Bookkeeping and VAT Returns
Keep your bookkeeping up to date, with reconciliations and VAT returns where included.
From £45/month
Review of records you maintain plus quarterly VAT returns, with clean records and standard complexity.
What the work can cover
- Record sales, purchases, expenses and bank transactions
- Reconcile bank and card accounts
- Review receivables, payables and unusual items
- Prepare and submit VAT returns where included
- Provide catch-up, clean-up or software-migration support where agreed
What we may need from you
- Access to your bookkeeping software and bank feeds or statements
- Sales invoices, purchase bills and expense records
- Notes on unusual or one-off transactions
How each VAT quarter works
You share the period’s records
Bank and card statements or feeds, sales invoices, purchase bills and receipts, plus notes on anything unusual.
We bring the books up to date
We record the transactions, reconcile bank and card accounts, and send you one list of questions about anything unclear or missing.
We prepare the VAT return
We check the VAT treatment, review the figures against the reconciled records and prepare the return with its workings.
You review and approve
We send you the figures to approve before anything is filed. If VAT is payable, we include the amount, how to pay HMRC and the payment deadline.
We file and confirm
Once you approve, we submit the return through Making Tax Digital compatible software and send you confirmation.
If you keep your own books, the first two steps become a review of your records. The same accountant, Muhammad Mohsin, ACCA, prepares and reviews your work.
Common questions
Who is this for?
UK small businesses that need help keeping accounting records current, reviewing records they maintain themselves, or preparing VAT returns. We agree which tasks Swift handles and which stay with you.
Can you help with VAT returns if I do my own bookkeeping?
Yes. The scope can cover a review of your records and VAT return preparation. We check what information is available and flag missing records or items that need your attention. Submission is included where agreed.
What should I prepare for ongoing support?
Access to your accounting software, bank and card statements or feeds, sales invoices, purchase bills and expense records. Include notes about unusual transactions and tell us about missing information. We agree how and when you provide records before work starts.
Who files the VAT return, and when?
Where submission is in the agreed scope, we file the return with HMRC after you approve the figures. Most quarterly returns and payments are due one calendar month and 7 days after the VAT period ends, so we agree when you will send records for each period.
Which accounting software do you use?
We mainly work in QuickBooks Online. If you use other software, such as Xero, Sage or FreeAgent, we can work in it or help you set it up.
Can you catch up on overdue bookkeeping or missed VAT returns?
Yes, as separately agreed catch-up work. We check what is missing, bring the records up to date period by period and prepare the outstanding returns. If HMRC has sent letters or penalty notices, share them so we can agree what is included.
Do I need Making Tax Digital software for VAT?
VAT-registered businesses must keep digital records and submit VAT returns through compatible software, unless HMRC has granted an exemption. If your records are on paper or in spreadsheets, we can help you move to compatible software.
How do we agree the fee?
Use the price calculator for an indicative range, or send an enquiry about the work you need. The fee depends on the scope and condition of the records. We agree what is included and the fee before starting.
Accounting software
See all software capabilitiesWe’ll confirm which of these platforms fits your setup and the service we agree.
