I’m not a fan of stories that have a ‘product placement’ flavour but this from Alan Wright, MD at Liberty Accounts was irresistable:
A Liberty Accounts user has just received a VAT 101 form (for some reason marked as a temporary VAT101) through the post from HMRC. They have now registered for online filing so the cost of mailing seems a
waste but my contact at HMRC tells me:
“Regrettably, and for the time being, signing up for online filing only suppresses the paper VAT 100. The paper VAT 101 will continue to be issued, although I’ve never heard of temporary ones!
It took an inordinate amount of time to deliver suppression of the VAT 100 and I’m not aware of any similar activity taking place around the VAT 101; as ever funding is tight.”
In the “Notes on Completion” on the reverse, it states in bold “Do not write on or amend details in the green area of this form.” Given that the form is printed on green paper they are somewhat confused as to how the form ought to be completed.
Here’s the pitch (slightly amended): Liberty Accounts is the only UK software currently able to file VAT100/101 online so their customers don’t have the problem of faffing around like this. Maybe if HMRC simply mandated online completion of 100/101 then none of this would happen. It’s a case of turning a process off. Surely not that expensive?
Disclosure: Liberty Accounts is not a client but they’re trying to do good things.
Technorati Tags: HMRC, Liberty Accounts, VAT
