VCAS1100 - Cash accounting scheme: Introduction: Background
Cash accounting is an optional scheme of accounting for VAT and was introduced on 1 October 1987. Its introduction was a deregulatory measure intended to ease the burdens on small businesses, especially those that provide extended credit to their customers. Since its introduction the scheme has undergone a variety of changes, some to simplify the scheme and others to counter abuse.
The scheme allows businesses to account for VAT on the basis of payments made and received rather than invoices issued and received and it gives automatic bad debt relief.
The scheme is an accounting scheme and, in general, does not override the basic VAT rules on supply, consideration and liability.
Policy responsibility for this scheme is with the VAT Infrastructure and SDIL policy team in Customs and Indirect Tax.
This guidance should help you to make decisions without referring to policy. Any points of difficulty should, in the first instance, be referred to line management.
If you cannot resolve the case locally and need to refer to the VAT Infrastructure and SDIL policy team with a written submission, you need to put them in a position to make their decision based upon a full understanding of the facts.
You should submit the case following the guidance on the Indirect Tax Directorate intranet page Getting advice.