What is VAT return outsourcing, and what does it cost?

VAT return outsourcing means another team prepares each quarterly return from your records and, if you want, submits it. EarthOne prepares VAT returns for UK accounting firms and UK businesses under the standard, cash accounting, flat rate and partial exemption schemes, and submits them through MTD-approved software. It costs £12.50 an hour, billed for the hours used.

What is included

What it costs

ModelRateBest for
Ad hoc£12.50 an hourQuarterly returns, catch-up quarters or one-off reconciliations

No onboarding fee, management fee or software charge. Ad hoc work is invoiced monthly for the hours used. There is no 12-month contract. Full detail is on the pricing page.

How it works

1

You send us the scope.

Tell us the volume, the software and what you need back. We tell you which pricing model fits and what it would cost.

2

We sign the Data Processing Agreement.

A GDPR-aligned DPA is signed before any file moves.

3

A named CA starts inside your software.

They work on your files, to your chart of accounts and your templates. On the dedicated model it is the same person every week.

4

A second qualified CA reviews the work.

Every file is reviewed internally before it leaves us. Weekly timesheets show what was done, the time spent and who did it.

5

You review and sign off.

Nothing goes to HMRC or Companies House without your instruction.

Who does the work

Every file is prepared by a qualified Indian Chartered Accountant, a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), and reviewed by a second qualified CA before it leaves us. It is an Indian qualification, separate from the UK ACA and ACCA, and we don't present it as one. Our team works in UK GAAP, MTD and HMRC processes every day.

We prepare and file inside your own accounting platform, including QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent and Capium. Our team is fluent in Xero, and Xero certification is in progress.

You decide who presses submit

We can submit to HMRC on your instruction, or hand the return back for you to review and file. Nothing is submitted without your instruction. For accounting firms the work is white-label, and we do not contact your clients.

More on how the arrangement works for practices is on the For Accounting Firms page.

Talk to a qualified CA, not a sales team.

Tell us how many VAT returns you file each quarter and which schemes they are on. We will tell you what it would cost.

Book a free 30-minute consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does VAT return outsourcing cost?
EarthOne charges £12.50 an hour for VAT return preparation, billed monthly for the hours used. There is no onboarding fee and no charge beyond the published rate.
Which VAT schemes do you handle?
Standard, cash accounting, flat rate and partial exemption.
Are the returns submitted under Making Tax Digital?
Yes. Returns are submitted through MTD-approved cloud software, either by us on your instruction or by you after review.
Do you deal with HMRC queries?
We support VAT reconciliations and HMRC queries on the returns we prepare. You keep the relationship with HMRC and with your client.
Who prepares the VAT returns?
Qualified Indian Chartered Accountants, members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). This is an Indian qualification, not ACCA or ICAEW. If your firm's compliance framework specifically requires ACCA or ICAEW membership on outsourced files, confirm that requirement with us before you start.
Will my clients know the work is outsourced?
No. For accounting firms the service is white-label. Work is delivered on your templates, into your client files, under your branding, and we do not contact your end clients.