Does this service support VAT or PAYE?
Clear Books Tax does not currently support VAT, PAYE, or confirmation statements. Here's what we do support and where to file these.
Clear Books Tax handles corporation tax (CT600), Companies House accounts, confirmation statement (CS01) filing, and MTD VAT returns. This guide explains what we do and do not cover, and where to go for the services we do not offer.
What Clear Books Tax Does
| Filing | Where it goes | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| CT600 | HMRC | Your company's corporation tax return |
| Micro-entity accounts | Companies House | Your company's annual accounts |
| Confirmation statement (CS01) | Companies House | Annual confirmation of company details |
| MTD VAT returns | HMRC | Your company's quarterly VAT return |
VAT Returns and Making Tax Digital (MTD)
Clear Books Tax supports MTD VAT filing.
You can connect your HMRC account, view your open VAT obligations, and submit VAT returns directly from Clear Books Tax.
How to Get Started with MTD VAT
- Go to https://clearbookstax.co.uk/mtd/vat/
- Click Connect to HMRC to authorise Clear Books Tax to access your VAT obligations
- Your open VAT periods will appear automatically
- Enter your 9-box VAT return figures and submit
VAT Registration
If your company is not yet VAT-registered, you'll need to register with HMRC first (required when taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in a 12-month period). You can register at gov.uk/vat-registration.
PAYE (Payroll)
Clear Books Tax does not support PAYE or payroll.
PAYE covers employee wages, tax deductions, National Insurance contributions, and Real Time Information (RTI) reporting to HMRC. It's a separate system from corporation tax.
Where to Handle PAYE
| Software | Notes |
|---|---|
| HMRC Basic PAYE Tools | Free for up to 9 employees |
| FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks | Include payroll features |
| Dedicated payroll software | BrightPay, Sage Payroll, etc. |
PAYE and Your CT600
Your employee costs (salaries, employer NI) are a business expense and reduce your taxable profit. When filling in your CT600 on Clear Books Tax, include these costs in the Staff costs field on the P&L — they'll reduce your corporation tax bill automatically.
Quick Reference: What Goes Where
| Filing | What | Where | Clear Books Tax? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CT600 | Corporation tax return | HMRC | Yes |
| Micro-entity accounts | Annual accounts | Companies House | Yes |
| Confirmation statement (CS01) | Annual company details check | Companies House | Yes |
| MTD VAT return | VAT owed/reclaimable | HMRC (via MTD) | Yes |
| PAYE / RTI | Employee tax & NI | HMRC | No |
| Self Assessment | Personal tax return | HMRC | No |
| CIC34 | CIC annual report | Companies House | No |
Common Questions
Q: How do I connect my HMRC account for VAT? A: Go to https://clearbookstax.co.uk/mtd/vat/ and click Connect to HMRC. You'll be redirected to HMRC's login page to authorise Clear Books Tax. Once connected, your VAT obligations load automatically.
Q: I use Clear Books Tax for CT600 — do I need to do anything different for VAT? A: No. Your VAT and CT600 filings are completely independent. You can file both through Clear Books Tax, or file VAT through other MTD-compatible software — whichever suits you.
Q: I use Clear Books Tax for CT600 — do I need separate software for PAYE? A: Yes, if you have employees. PAYE and CT600 are independent filings. Many accounting packages (FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks) handle both payroll and bookkeeping.
Q: My company does not have employees — do I need to worry about PAYE? A: If you're a director taking a salary, you'll still need to run a payroll scheme and report via RTI. If you only take dividends (no salary), you do not need PAYE.
Q: Can I file my confirmation statement through Clear Books Tax? A: Yes. See our confirmation statement filing guide for details on how to file your CS01.
Still Have Questions?
If you're not sure which filings your company needs, get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.
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