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THis year or last?

Posted: Mon 11 Apr, 2016 5:08 pm
by GeoSpectrum
So, if I take and order in March and complete it and take payment in April in the new tax year, which year does that sale get recorded under? Im thinking it must be when you get paid, I'd the new tax year, but I could be wrong.......

Re: THis year or last?

Posted: Mon 11 Apr, 2016 8:29 pm
by Graysalchemy
As a limited company it is when the invoice is raised, but in fact you can accrue work carried out in on tax year but not invoiced as the work has been done and you have invoices for the materials etc. I would have thought it would be the same if you were a sole trader.

This is why i cannot stress enough the importance of having a good accountant from day 1. I have seen so many sole traders make costly mistakes because they thought they could get away without having an accountant.

Re: THis year or last?

Posted: Mon 11 Apr, 2016 10:52 pm
by pramsay13
Did you raise an invoice?
I don't normally so I record my income when I get the money, doesn't matter when I took the order or made the frame.

Re: THis year or last?

Posted: Tue 12 Apr, 2016 6:59 am
by GeoSpectrum
Yes I raised an invoice so ill take that as the date I think. IIl check with my accountant though, but I thought I'd ask here.

Re: THis year or last?

Posted: Tue 12 Apr, 2016 8:12 am
by CanvasChris
My accountant asks me to list all outstanding invoices unpaid and a list of invoices I haven't paid as of end of day 5th April.

Needless to say I am a better payer than my customers :head:

Re: THis year or last?

Posted: Tue 12 Apr, 2016 8:17 am
by Tyto
The date of the invoice determines which tax year the sale is accounted to regardless of when payment is received

Re: THis year or last?

Posted: Tue 19 Apr, 2016 11:32 am
by Jamesnkr
Tyto wrote:The date of the invoice determines which tax year the sale is accounted to regardless of when payment is received
Not so. The date the work was done determines the year. It is work in progress (or completed work that has not yet been invoiced). To the extent the work has been undertaken by the year end, then the profit should be accounted for in that year. Here it is from HMRC's guidance.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/bim33020.htm

However, if your turnover is less than the VAT threshold, then you can elect for the cash basis to apply.

(The date on the invoice is the tax point for VAT purposes.)

Re: THis year or last?

Posted: Tue 19 Apr, 2016 1:22 pm
by GeoSpectrum
THes was the response from my accountant.

"....We will look at degree of completion of work, on an "accruals" basis....."

Is that work in hand?

Re: THis year or last?

Posted: Fri 29 Apr, 2016 11:31 am
by ChrisG
If you are a sole trader you can operate on a 'cash accounting' basis whereby you only declare income and expenses when money actually comes in and out of the business.

Re: THis year or last?

Posted: Fri 29 Apr, 2016 4:38 pm
by GeoSpectrum
thanks Chris, that's useful to know.

Re: THis year or last?

Posted: Tue 03 May, 2016 9:02 am
by Jamesnkr
Jamesnkr wrote:However, if your turnover is less than the VAT threshold, then you can elect for the cash basis to apply.
NB my comment above if using the cash basis. £83,000 is the threshold.

Re: THis year or last?

Posted: Tue 03 May, 2016 4:30 pm
by GeoSpectrum
Yep, I'm less that that.