When can I add VAT

Mistral001

This is of little comfort to you, but problems like this can usually be solved by an experienced accountant during a five minute phone call.

If your accountant cannot give you an answer to this problem in a few minutes, then think about changing your accountant.

I am in a similar profession to yours and over the last 20 years that I have been a sole practitioner, I really value my accountant. I could get a cheaper service by going online, or going with the unqualified accountants but it is the occasions like the one that you have described where they really earn their higher fees.

Pennywise

Mistral001 wrote: »

This is of little comfort to you, but problems like this can usually be solved by an experienced accountant during a five minute phone call.

If your accountant cannot give you an answer to this problem in a few minutes, then think about changing your accountant.

I am in a similar profession to yours and over the last 20 years that I have been a sole practitioner, I really value my accountant. I could get a cheaper service by going online, or going with the unqualified accountants but it is the occasions like the one that you have described where they really earn their higher fees.

Whilst I agree with all that, there are plenty of unqualified/unregulated accountants who actually charge more than properly qualified ones - they're not always cheaper.

Newuser1987

Mistral001 wrote: »

This is of little comfort to you, but problems like this can usually be solved by an experienced accountant during a five minute phone call.

No issues with my accountant. It was just as I said previously she isnt back until Monday and I was sending out some quotes yesterday. Then answers to my original question led on to other questions.

Newuser1987

Pennywise wrote: »

Whilst I agree with all that, there are plenty of unqualified/unregulated accountants who actually charge more than properly qualified ones - they're not always cheaper.

Unfortunately this happens in quite a few professions including Architecture!

00ec25

Newuser1987 wrote: »

Although I may need to do some more reading into this because of the way I 'supply' my services. It is not always clear what my 'date of supply' is. As an example a I may have issued a set of drawings to a client but my services may not have stopped there if for example they come back and ask me to make changes..

your quote defines what services you will be providing and your resulting contract sets those expectations in stone along with your payment terms

either that does or does not include the "extra" work of drawing amendments.
- if it does, your service ends when the client accepts the drawing and you are therefore ready to invoice in the expectation of being paid for the contracted work you now completed (14 day window)
- if it does not then use a different form of contract since your relationship with your client is on a poor footing and fighting over variations or E&EO is not a good way to build a professional reputation. for example, given your client base, I'd expect you to use a RIBA or JCT (domestic) professional service contract.

see sections 14 & 15
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-guide-notice-700#section14

obviously if the job is large then your contract may impose interim payment(s) requirements - your accountant can explain those in due course as they are not necessarily taxpoints