Submit your VAT return with Tide Accounting

Get your VAT number ready and let's submit your VAT return with VAT Manager.

In this guide, we look at how to:

Categorise your transactions and add your VAT rate

Review your submitted VAT reports

Sync a new bank account

VAT Manager is for you if you:

Are on the Cash VAT scheme

Are on the Standard VAT Scheme

Trade only in the UK

Have no outstanding VAT corrections

Submit your VAT with Tide Accounting

You'll need to submit your VAT return before your deadline, which will be one month and 7 days after the end of your VAT period.

For example, if your VAT return period ends on 31 March, your VAT return will be due by 7 May.

Step 1: Set up a Government Gateway account

You'll need to set up a Government Gateway account by heading to gov.uk. This allows you to securely log in to your tax account and file your VAT online.

Step 2: Register with HMRC

Head to gov.uk to register for VAT. You can do so using your Government Gateway user ID and password.

Step 3: Connect your Tide Accounting to HMRC

You can do so on the web – all you need is your VAT number in hand.

Click: Admin > Taxes > Connect to HMRC > enter your VAT number > Connect

Step 4: Categorise and add VAT rates to your transactions

Ensure that each of your invoices, payments, or various other transactions has the correct category and VAT rate.

You can do so in app, on the web, or via Tide Accounting – and all changes will be reflected to your timeline. To quickly add your missing VAT rates to your transactions:

Select: Admin > Taxes > update X items

Also, avoid applying your VAT rate twice – once, when the invoice is issued and a second time, when the payment is made. Check if you've matched your invoices and bills to their respective payments in-app:

Tap: Invoices & Bills > find the relevant invoice > mark as Paid > select the correct transactions

Remember that different items in the UK have different rates applied. Check out this list for a reference of the different VAT rates.

Wait for the automatic calculations

Tide Accounting automatically calculates your VAT based on the VAT rate you've added to your transactions.

The amount of VAT you'll pay depends on the VAT scheme you're on:

Cash VAT Scheme – you pay VAT when you receive payments and reclaim it when you pay suppliers. The amount will be calculated based on transactions only

Standard VAT Scheme – you pay VAT when you issue an invoice and reclaim it when you receive an invoice. The amount is based on invoices and transactions

Step 5: Review your submission

If you're on the Cash VAT scheme, you can only view your draft report on mobile. To get your overview in-app:

Tap: Open Accounting > VAT Manager > Next VAT period > View draft report

Meanwhile, if you're on the Standard VAT scheme, you can only generate your draft report on the web.

Click: Tools & services > Tide Accounting > VAT Manager > under Open submissions > Review and finalise report

Step 6: Submit your VAT return to HMRC

Review the final amounts of VAT very careful. After you're done, you can submit your VAT return directly from Tide Accounting, from your desktop.

On the web, log in to your Tide account and click: Admin > Taxes > Review and finalise report > Submit VAT Report to HMRC

Manage your VAT

Learn how to review your past reports, add a new account, or change your account details.

Review your submitted VAT reports

The steps are the same for both mobile and desktop. Simply:

Tap or click: Admin > Taxes > VAT Manager > View all > View submission report

Sync a new bank account

Let’s say you’re on the Cash VAT scheme. Here’s what you’ll need to do to add your new bank account:

Tap or click: Admin > Manage accounting > Synced bank accounts > Connect another account to Tide

If you're on the Standard VAT scheme, you'll first need to delete your pending VAT reports.

Tap or click: Admin > Tide Accounting > VAT Manager > Delete Report

Next, add your account in the same way you'd for Cash VAT

Change your account details

You can change your account details only on mobile and if you haven’t submitted your VAT report. Tap Admin > Manage accounting > Accounting details, to change your:

Accounting method (Cash or Accrual accounting)*

Financial Year start date

VAT registration status

VAT number and registration date

VAT Accounting scheme

*Only applicable to Sole Traders