VAT remittance advice

[blueislander]

Had a cheque turn up this weekend as a "VAT remittance advice", matching an exact amount I paid to HMRC in April for vat. Because of a change in accountant my new ones can't tell me why this is other than possibly I paid the amount twice (which i don't think i have done as it is a very specific amount).

Any idea why I would receive one of these? I don't want to bank it if I am likely having to pay it out again!!!

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

You must surely know if you've paid a VAT bill twice? What do your books show?

If you're still not sure, ring the VAT office and asked them why they've sent you a cheque.

Make sure you sort this out or you could end up with headaches. Long story short, I once double paid a VAT bill and was told by HMRC to deduct the overpayment from my next VAT bill, which I did. Then, unbeknownst to me they issued a refund cheque anyway but sent it to my old address (which I thought I had updated), meaning I ended up underpaying my next bill and ended up with HMRC sending the debt collectors in (it all got resolved in the end though).

[blueislander]

You must surely know if you've paid a VAT bill twice? What do your books show?

If you're still not sure, ring the VAT office and asked them why they've sent you a cheque.

Make sure you sort this out or you could end up with headaches. Long story short, I once double paid a VAT bill and was told by HMRC to deduct the overpayment from my next VAT bill, which I did. Then, unbeknownst to me they issued a refund cheque anyway but sent it to my old address (which I thought I had updated), meaning I ended up underpaying my next bill and ended up with HMRC sending the debt collectors in (it all got resolved in the end though).

I'm going through previous statements now to see if I have paid it twice! I don't think I have so I don't know why they have done this - gonna give them a buzz like you say. I want to avoid a situation like the one you had to endure!

Cheers

[northernladuk]

You must surely know if you've paid a VAT bill twice? What do your books show?

If you're still not sure, ring the VAT office and asked them why they've sent you a cheque.

+1

Sometimes thinking and doing a bit of work instead of asking strangers is a better option.....

[blueislander]

+1

Sometimes thinking and doing a bit of work instead of asking strangers is a better option.....

Stuck in transit hence unable to make a call - just asking for any experience of what this can be before I do my digging. Turns out it was a double payment, i did a BP and they did a DD at the same time and I missed it.