VAT guidance

Hi

I registered for VAT in April 2012, choosing an implementation date in May 2012. So, imminently, I will have to start billing clients VAT and dealing with VAT from suppliers.

I would like to establish a template or guide to remind me what/how VAT should be charged to each of my different clients, and how incoming bills from suppliers should be passed on to my clients.

It is essential that this template or guide enables me to quote to clients, and prepare invoices, myself, without the need for continuous liaison with an Accountant. I will however expect to involve an Accountant when completing an EC sales list quarterly for HMRC, and in the bookkeeping to tell me how much VAT to pay to HMRC periodically.

I have clients in the UK, EU, and other overseas, both individuals and companies in each region.

I understand some of the payments I make are VAT exempt, e.g. when I file patent applications directly at the UK Patent Office and pay Official fees (Government fees) to the UK Patent Office. Perhaps also when I ask an overseas patent attorney intermediary to file a foreign patent application where they directly pay the foreign Patent Office fees before charging me.

I would like to be as competitive as possible when quoting, so I do not want to put VAT on invoices unnecessarily. Equally, I do not want to make my billing overly complicated.

I would like to know how to deal with supplier invoices that already include VAT. I know I will want to charge my clients the VAT the supplier has charged me (so I am not out of pocket), but I wonder if in my circumstancess I can treat the supplier's total invoice charges as disbursements and avoid charging more VAT on top of their total invoice charges (which already includes their VAT). I will of course charge VAT on my time to the client.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks

M Allen