VAT for Small Businesses

by Andy Rainford

Revised and up to date for 2025/26. VAT affects many businesses across the globe and getting it wrong can be administratively burdensome and costly. Enhance your knowledge of VAT for small business and discover the governing rules, guidelines and the schemes available to your business or clients.

price £100+vat
cpd hours 4 CPD hours
access 120 days' access

Use ACPD101 for 10% off any purchase.

This course will enable you to

  • Familiarise yourself with the fundamentals of VAT
  • Understand how the flat rate scheme can help your business and enable you to calculate the VAT due
  • Define the cash accounting scheme, and its advantages and drawbacks
  • Understand the annual accounting scheme and how to make advance VAT payments
  • Describe the VAT margin schemes available to small businesses

About the course

VAT affects many people and businesses across the globe. Not only are the rules governing it complex, but getting it wrong can be administratively burdensome and, more importantly, costly. However, there are some invaluable VAT schemes that are available to smaller businesses. Understanding who can benefit from these, and what the conditions are, can make a massive difference to your business or clients.

This course will demystify the rules and guidelines that govern VAT that the schemes become easier to navigate. Discover the main features and eligibility of the range of schemes including flat rate, cash accounting, annual accounting and margin.

Look inside

imac
slide-1
slide-1-thumbnail
slide-2-thumbnail
slide-3-thumbnail
slide-4-thumbnail
slide-5-thumbnail

Contents

  • VAT: The basics
    • VAT: An overview
    • The fundamentals
    • The accountant's role in VAT
    • Registering
    • Supplies and VAT tax
    • Compliance
  • Flat rate scheme
    • All about the flat rate scheme
    • The aims of the scheme
    • Relevant percentage
    • Eligibility and restrictions
    • The limited cost trader rate
    • Leaving the scheme
  • The cash accounting scheme
    • All about the cash accounting scheme
    • The aims of the scheme
    • Eligibility and restrictions
    • Advantages and disadvantages
    • Joining and leaving the scheme
  • The annual accounting scheme
    • All about the annual accounting scheme
    • The aims of the scheme
    • Advantages and disadvantages
    • Joining and leaving the scheme
  • Margin schemes
    • All about the margin scheme
    • The aims of the scheme
    • Eligibility and restrictions
    • Special rules for car dealers
    • Joining and leaving the scheme
    • Global accounting

How it works

Author

Andy Rainford

Andrew Rainford BA (Hons), ATT, CTA trained and qualified with an independent London firm of accountants, and subsequently worked on EY's personal tax consultancy team.

Now based in North Wales, he runs his own tax consultancy and writing business, Red Dragon Consulting, working directly for private clients and also supporting other tax advisers.

Reviews

Recommended

Why not upgrade?

Find the best way to complete your CPD

Course

Need just a few unitshourshours?

Pick n Mix

All you need for this year's CPD.

Licence

All you need for this year and more.

Team

Keep your whole team up to date.
Access to this course
Total CPD unitshourshours4 unitshourshours21 units20 hours21 hours1,500+ unitshourshours1,500+ unitshourshours
Access period120 days120 days12 months12+ months
Audit-proof CPD completion certificate
Immediate access to our entire CPD catalogue
Monthly webinars, 15-minute CPD Bites, video interviews with industry leaders, and more!
Account manager on hand to support your team’s needs
Learn moreLearn moreLearn more

Why not upgrade?

Find the best way to complete your CPD

You might also like

Take a look at some of our bestselling courses

Use ACPD101 for 10% off any purchase.