HMRC issues reminder about VAT penalty cut-off date

HMRC has warned businesses that took advantage of the coronavirus VAT deferral scheme last year that a key penalty deadline is looming. What’s the story?

HMRC issues reminder about VAT penalty cut-off date

At the start of the first lockdown, HMRC announced that VAT payments due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 could be deferred. The amounts deferred needed to be paid back by 31 March 2021. HMRC has now issued a reminder that if the deferred amounts are not made good by the end of June, a 5% penalty will apply as well as interest. Any business that has not already made good the amounts should make sure they do so by that date.

Alternatively, businesses that are struggling to pay the amount in one instalment can still opt into the new payment scheme here until 21 July 2021, and spread the repayment over the period to 31 March 2022. The number of instalments available will depend when the scheme is joined:

 

Join before

Number of instalments available

19 May 2021

9

21 June 2021

8

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