Specialist VAT services and advice for Blackpool, Lancashire and across the north west

VAT was introduced on the 1st April 1973 and was hailed as a tax that would be easy to understand and simple to operate - how times have changed!

VAT registered businesses across Lancashire and the north west will bear witness to the way the system has become increasingly complex, supported by a mass of legislation, Orders, Regulations, VAT notices, Tribunal decisions and European Court of Justice rulings. To make matters worse, there is in place a regime of penalties and interest charges that, while intended as a deterrent, apply also to innocent errors.

As VAT specialists, we at Business Support have already encountered many businesses who do not consider VAT until it is too late, and some who do not consider it at all. In such circumstances ignorance is certainly not bliss – nor, as the findings of numerous Tribunals will attest, is it an excuse!

A business decision made without reference to VAT or without consulting a VAT specialist can have enormous financial consequences. Some businesses will, unfortunately, not survive; they will pay the ultimate price for burying their heads in the sand.

Business Support's VAT specialists offer a broad range of advice and services to businesses across the north west. From VAT assessments and inspections, right through to help with day-to-day queries, if this most complex of taxes is causing you trouble then our team of VAT specialists can help.

Our VAT services include advice on when and how to become VAT registered; how to prepare a VAT Return; partial exemption calculations; land and property transactions; VAT assessment reviews; deregistration... we could go on, but a look at our Menu of Services will give you a good overview of the services that each Business Support VAT specialist can provide.

We are happy to offer VAT support on an ongoing basis (such as by completing monthly, quarterly or annual VAT Returns), but can also advise on one-off VAT issues and problems. These might include late registration, correcting significant under- or over-declarations of VAT, appealing against an assessment received following a VAT inspection, or reclaiming the VAT incurred in the building of your own house. There is very little that a Business Support VAT specialist has not encountered, and even less that they cannot help with.

Business Support will answer your query in plain, understandable English. Whether you need help with a specific issue, or would like to make a more general enquiry, please don't hesitate to contact our team of VAT specialists and they will be glad to help.

(Image quotation taken from preface to Tolley’s Practical Guide to VAT Planning)