VAT Return Calculator
Calculate your VAT return — output VAT on sales vs input VAT on purchases. See amount due or refund.
Source: GOV.UK — Business tax
By Konstantin Iakovlev · Founder, Calks.uk
Last updated: · Verified against HMRC and GOV.UK 2026/27 rates
Sales (Output VAT)
Net amount excl. VAT
Purchases (Input VAT)
Net amount excl. VAT
VAT to Pay to HMRC
£0.00
Output VAT (you collected)
£0.00
Input VAT (you paid)
£0.00
Disclaimer
This calculator is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. All calculations are performed locally in your browser — no personal data is collected or sent to our servers. Rates and thresholds are sourced from HMRC and GOV.UK and are updated for the current tax year. Always verify results with HMRC or consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
How It Works
This calculator helps you calculate your VAT return — output VAT on sales vs input VAT on purchases. See amount due or refund. The calculation follows official UK rules and rates for the 2026/27 financial year, using data sourced directly from government publications.
All inputs are processed entirely in your browser — no data is sent to a server. You can adjust the figures as many times as you need to explore different scenarios. The results update instantly as you type.
VAT return periods and deadlines. Standard VAT period: 3 months (quarterly). Returns due 1 calendar month + 7 days after period end (e.g. Q1 31 March: due 7 May). Pay electronically — Direct Debit gives 3 extra days. Annual Accounting Scheme: 1 return + 9 interim payments. Cash Accounting Scheme: pay VAT only when customer pays you (turnover under £1.35m).
Output VAT vs Input VAT. Output VAT: charged on your sales (you collect from customers, pay to HMRC). Input VAT: paid on your purchases (you reclaim from HMRC). VAT return: output - input = amount to pay HMRC (or refund if input > output). For most businesses, this is a small positive number. Capital-intensive businesses in growth phase often reclaim more than charge.
Common VAT schemes to choose from. Standard (most common). Cash Accounting: pay when customer pays you. Annual Accounting: one return per year. Flat Rate Scheme (FRS): pay flat % of gross turnover (4-16.5% by sector) instead of input vs output VAT. Margin Scheme: for second-hand goods, antiques, art. Tour Operators Margin Scheme. Each suits different business models — review annually as turnover grows.
Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements. Since 2019 (extended 2022): VAT returns MUST be filed via MTD-compatible software (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent, Zoho). Manual Excel uploads banned since April 2021. Digital records must transfer to HMRC via API. Bridging software allows continued Excel use with API submission. From April 2026, MTD extends to Self Assessment for self-employed earning £30k+ (MTD ITSA).
How to use the VAT Return Calculator
- Enter your details in the input fields above
- The calculator applies current UK rates and thresholds automatically
- Results update in real time — adjust any figure to explore scenarios
- All calculations use official 2026/27 rates from GOV.UK — Business tax
Source: GOV.UK — Business tax
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the VAT Return Calculator do?
- Calculate your VAT return — output VAT on sales vs input VAT on purchases. See amount due or refund.
- What VAT scheme should my small business use?
- Standard Accounting: works for most. Cash Accounting (turnover under £1.35m): pay VAT only when customers pay you. Annual Accounting: nine interim payments + final return. Flat Rate Scheme: pay flat % of gross turnover (varies 4-16.5% by industry) instead of input vs output VAT. Limited Cost Trader (16.5%) applies if goods cost less than 2% of turnover. Margin Scheme: for second-hand goods, art, antiques.
- When are VAT returns due and how often?
- Standard VAT returns are quarterly via Making Tax Digital. Deadlines are 1 calendar month + 7 days after the quarter end (e.g. Q1 ending 31 March: due 7 May). Annual Accounting Scheme files one return per year. Pay electronically (Direct Debit gives 3 extra days). Late filing/payment incurs 1-15% surcharges and from January 2023 new 'points-based' penalties (one point per late return, £200 penalty at 4 points).
- What records do I need to keep for VAT?
- MTD-compliant digital records of: VAT account, sales invoices (including VAT split), purchase invoices, credit notes, exempt supplies, partial exemption calculations, capital goods scheme records. Records must be kept for 6 years (10 years if using MOSS/OSS for cross-border digital sales). Digital records must transfer to HMRC via API — manual Excel uploads were banned April 2021.