Rated 5.0 on Google Fixed monthly fees, software included VAT, CIS, payroll and year end handled Liverpool, Wirral and Cheshire, UK-wide Run by Barnaby Byrom since 2023
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Are your VAT returns protecting the cash set aside for HMRC?

VAT returns for trade companies need more than a total at quarter end. We check contractor invoices, quote pricing and the amount kept aside before payment is due.

5.0 on Google. Can’t recommend these guys enough, saved the day when our previous accountant hadn’t been filling properly and we were facing fines. Worth their… Regent Barbers · Read the reviews
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A few quick questions, then a fixed monthly fee in writing and the free VAT and structure check. About two minutes, no tie in.

Invoices to contractorsVAT kept in its own pot

The invoice that looks ordinary may need the domestic reverse charge, while VAT collected on another job belongs in a separate pot. The real test is whether both were handled before the quarter closed.

Concrete Accounts handles quarterly VAT filing for trade limited companies in Liverpool and across the UK. A fixed monthly fee with software included can cover bookkeeping, CIS, payroll and year end, with a free review of the books on joining.

VAT returns: Barnaby reviewing contractor invoices with an electrician in a terraced house Construction trades

The quarter closes, but the VAT money has gone

5.0 · Liverpool accountantGet a free quote
  • Rated 5.0 on Google
  • Fixed monthly fees, software included
  • VAT, CIS, payroll and year end handled
  • Liverpool, Wirral and Cheshire, UK-wide

What changes before the next quarter closes

01

Keep the payment separate as cash arrives

VAT collected from customers moves into its own pot before materials or wages can absorb it.

02

Price jobs with the right treatment

Quotes account for registration and contractor rules before the customer sees them.

03

Know which invoices need the reverse charge

Contractor invoices are checked before an incorrect treatment carries into the filing.

Where trade VAT goes wrong before filing day

The problem usually starts when a quote is sent or a customer pays.

  • Threshold

    “I crossed the £90,000 line halfway through the year, and every live quote had gone out without VAT.”

    The margin on those jobs may already be committed. Registration timing then becomes a pricing problem.

  • Invoices

    “I sent the contractor invoice as normal, then heard the reverse charge should have applied.”

    An ordinary-looking invoice can carry the wrong treatment into the quarter. It needs checking before filing.

  • Payment

    “The VAT payment was due, but the money had already gone on materials and wages.”

    Using the bank balance as a spending limit hides what belongs to HMRC.

  • Day 90

    What changes once VAT advice is in the room

    Each quote starts with the right treatment. Contractor invoices are checked as they arrive. The expected payment moves into its own pot as customers pay.

Quick check · no email

If your accountant can’t explain your VAT scheme, forecast the payment before it lands and answer this week, you have the wrong accountant

Answer these three questions about the accountant handling your current set-up.

Question 1 of 3

Could they tell you this week whether your VAT scheme still fits?

What filing alone misses during the quarter

A correct submission can still arrive after the costly decisions were made.

A filing-only service

Invoices are reviewed near the deadline.

The payment is calculated after the cash has moved.

Quote pricing stays outside the conversation.

Reverse charge errors surface at quarter end.

Ongoing VAT support

Invoices are checked through the quarter.

The expected payment is put aside as cash arrives.

New quotes use the right treatment.

Contractor work is checked before invoicing.

The checks that stop a quarterly surprise

A sound set-up should answer each question without rebuilding the quarter.

  • 01

    Is turnover checked on a rolling basis?

    That catches the registration point before it is missed.

  • 02

    Is VAT included correctly in new quotes?

    That protects the margin before work begins.

  • 03

    Are contractor invoices checked before sending?

    That catches reverse charge treatment at the right time.

  • 04

    Is collected VAT moved into a separate pot?

    That keeps HMRC’s money out of daily spending.

  • 05

    Are purchase invoices captured each month?

    That avoids missed claims and a quarter-end search.

  • 06

    Does the current scheme still fit?

    Growth can make an old choice less suitable.

  • 07

    Can your accountant explain the next payment?

    You should know what is coming before filing day.

  • 08

    Do VAT and CIS use the same books?

    Connected filings reduce gaps between contractor invoices and deductions.

What sits behind a correct quarterly filing

The return works better when the invoices and cash are handled throughout the quarter.

Quarterly

Filing and payment planning

The quarter is checked, submitted and explained in plain English.

Monthly

Bookkeeping that stays current

Sales, purchases and payments stay ready for the next deadline.

Trade

Contractor invoice checks

Domestic reverse charge treatment is checked alongside CIS where it applies.

All Services →

Entry 01

How the rolling threshold catches growing trades

Turnover can cross the registration line while existing jobs are still being completed.

Figure£90,000 linecrossed before anyone said
Found byThe rolling turnover total is checked before the registration point becomes an HMRC letter.
ResultRegistration can be timed properly and the correct treatment built into new quotes.
AlsoThe same check covers contractor invoices and whether the current scheme still fits.
Found by
Result

Clients described by type. Names withheld.

What clients say

Can’t recommend these guys enough, saved the day when our previous accountant hadn’t been filling properly and we were facing fines. Worth their weight in gold!
Regent BarbersGoogle review · 10 months ago
Exceptional service. Communication is clear, timely, and consistently accessible. After years of dealing with an accountant who was difficult to reach and overly formal, working with someone this reliable and solution focused has been a significant improvement. Strongly recommend.
James HenryGoogle review · 10 months ago
I’ve been blown away by the service from Barnaby! My accounts went from being a constant mental burden to something I feel completely under control — all thanks to him. Now I can shift my mental energy to running my business rather than worrying about unexpected tax bills. Barnaby not only stays on top of everything, but also sends me financial reports so I have clarity and always know exactly what’s going on, which has made running my business enjoyable again!
Oliver NoakesGoogle review · 10 months ago

How the first quarter gets put in order

The work begins with the decisions already affecting invoices and cash.

Before day one

Know what needs correcting

We check registration, the current scheme, contractor invoices and what has been set aside.

Day 30

Keep the books current

Sales, purchases and payments are kept together in the included cloud software.

Day 60

Price new work correctly

VAT treatment is considered before the next quote reaches a customer or contractor.

Day 90

Close the quarter prepared

The filing is completed and the next payment is planned before another deadline approaches.

Who fits, and who should look elsewhere

Sole traders below the threshold with no plan to incorporate should use a lighter service.

A one-off filing with no ongoing monthly work sits outside this service.

New side hustles without established turnover are unlikely to need this level of support.

We won’t take work that involves changing invoices or accounts to hide a bill.

The free set-up review will tell you plainly whether the service fits.

Questions trade owners ask before the next filing

What does the monthly fee for VAT returns include?

The monthly scope can include bookkeeping, checking sales and purchase invoices, contractor reverse charge treatment, filing and the payment due. Cloud software is included. CIS, payroll, year-end accounts and corporation tax can sit in the same defined scope, so each deadline uses the same books.

Can you handle our VAT returns if we already have an accountant?

Yes, although responsibility must be agreed before anything is filed. We first check what your current accountant handles and what has gone wrong. Growing trade companies are usually better served when bookkeeping, contractor invoice checks and quarterly filing use the same books.

Do we have to move to different accounting software?

A move is not automatic. We check whether your current software supports the monthly bookkeeping and digital filing needed. If a change makes sense, the cloud software is included within the fixed monthly scope and the opening balances are checked during onboarding.

What happens with our current accountant if we switch?

Concrete Accounts contacts the previous accountant directly and handles the information needed for the move. Onboarding is completed in the first week, subject to receiving the required access and documents. Your existing books are then reviewed for errors before the next filing is prepared.

When does the domestic reverse charge apply to contractor invoices?

The domestic reverse charge can apply to construction work invoiced between contractors. The treatment changes how VAT appears on the invoice and who accounts for it. We check the customer, the work and the CIS position before deciding how an invoice should be raised.

How much VAT should a trade company put aside each month?

The amount depends on taxable sales, purchases, the scheme in use and any reverse charge work. We estimate the position from current bookkeeping and move the expected payment into a separate pot. That keeps money due to HMRC away from materials, wages and daily spending.