A practical look at your VAT - without judgement

What a VAT review doesn't do

It’s important to be clear about scope.

A VAT review does not involve:

• full invoice-to-return assurance

• completeness testing

• forensic or investigative checks

• audit-level verification

Those types of checks require deeper access and a different level of work.

A VAT review is about sense-checking, not certifying.

What a VAT review looks at

A VAT review uses information already available within your accounting software, such as:

• VAT return reports

• VAT detail reports

• summary outputs and reports

  From this, I can:

• spot incorrect VAT rates

• identify unusual or inconsistent patterns

• highlight obvious omissions

• flag potential risk areas

• assess whether the overall process looks sound

This gives you a clearer picture of whether things are broadly on track, or whether something needs further attention.

If you manage your own VAT, or it’s handled as part of your bookkeeping, it’s natural to want reassurance that everything makes sense.

A VAT review is a risk and process check, designed to highlight anything that may need attention before it becomes a bigger problem.

It’s not an audit, and it’s not about catching you out.
It’s about clarity.

Why this approach works

Most VAT issues don’t come from deliberate mistakes.
They come from:

• small misunderstandings

• processes that have drifted over time

• changes in a business that weren’t reflected in the records

A focused review can often identify these early, while they’re still manageable.

How we usually start

I usually begin with a short, no-pressure chat to understand your situation and what you’re hoping to get from a review.

If it’s helpful to look more closely, I’ll explain what a VAT review would involve and what it would cover, so you can decide how you’d like to proceed.

There’s no guessing, and no obligation.

A note on fees and scope

VAT reviews are scoped pieces of work, based on the time genuinely needed to review the information available.

If anything looks unclear or more involved than expected, I’ll slow down and discuss options with you before going any further.

That way, everything stays transparent and proportionate.

If you’d like to talk it through

If you’re unsure whether a VAT review would be helpful, you’re welcome to get in touch and start with a conversation.

Sometimes that’s all that’s needed.
Sometimes a proper review brings peace of mind.

Either way, we take it one step at a time.

FAQs

Will you tell me exactly what needs fixing?

If anything looks unclear or potentially incorrect, I'll explain what I've found and what your options are. Some issues are straightforward to correct, while others may need a closer look or further work.

What happens if something doesn't look right?

Nothing happens without discussion. I'll talk you through what I've seen and suggest sensible next steps, so you can decide how you'd like to proceed.

Get in touch

Questions about your VAT review? We're here to help.