Missing a VAT deadline means penalties. Here is how the standard deadlines and the points-based system work.
VAT deadlines are unforgiving, and the penalty regime now bites for repeated slips — so a reliable process matters.
The standard deadline
For most businesses on quarterly VAT, both the return and the payment are due one calendar month and seven days after the end of the VAT period. Different rules apply to schemes such as annual accounting and payments on account, so check each client's setup.
The penalty points system
HMRC's points-based system gives a penalty point for each late return; reach the threshold for your filing frequency and a fixed penalty applies, with further penalties for continued lateness. Late payment interest and penalties apply separately. Tracking quarter-ends carefully is the simplest protection.
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