VAT Submission Online

VAT submissions? We make them easy.

No more VAT deadline dread, HMRC confusion, or fiddly spreadsheets. Whether it’s your first VAT return or your fiftieth, Crunch makes online VAT submissions simple. You get smart software and expert support when you need it.

“I approached Crunch to help with self-assessments and VAT returns as a new business owner. I have appreciated the straightforward approach taken by Crunch employees, who helped me greatly get started. I also got a generous VAT refund from HMRC which I didn't know I was due until I used the Crunch VAT return service!”
Christopher

Why VAT-registered businesses choose Crunch

Everything you need to file VAT returns easily, included in your Pro or Premium subscription.  Just looking to submit VAT returns? Use Crunch Free and simply add VAT filing for £4 + VAT/month.

Total tax & dividend clarity

See what you owe, what you can take, and when. So you can plan ahead without second-guessing yourself.

Peace of mind, sorted

No more spreadsheets or tax panic. Just accurate books, expert eyes, and full visibility.

Save hours every week

Wave goodbye to mind-numbing admin and get back to focusing on what you actually care about.

Support that fits you

Need a one-off tidy? Or regular monthly help? We’ll fit around you and your needs.

Fast when it counts

Deadline coming? Mortgage lender breathing down your neck? Ask us about Express—we’ve got you.

Always up to date

Our expert bookkeepers keep your Crunch account squeaky clean and current. No chasing, no lagging.

Our friendly advisors are here to help

How VAT returns work with Crunch

We’ve made filing your VAT returns something you barely need to think about:

  1. We automatically create your VAT return from your bookkeeping data.
  2. We’ll notify you when it’s ready for you to review and approve.
  3. We file your VAT return directly with HMRC on your behalf.

 VAT submissions—as easy as 1, 2, 3 with Crunch.

New to VAT? We can help

If you need to register for VAT, we’ll guide you to the right scheme for your business. So you know your business is on the right one.

We handle the entire HMRC registration process so you can relax.

Need to register for VAT but feeling lost on where to start.
Product shots of Crunch Software on mobile, tablet and desktop

Easy VAT filing, from just £4 + VAT

Just need to file your VAT returns? Use Crunch Free and add on VAT filing for just £4 + VAT/month. It’s a simple, low-cost way to stay MTD compliant.

Expert advice is always available; you can upgrade anytime for unlimited expert advice or pay a small fee for one-off accountant support. Flexible, straightforward, and designed for you.

The team walked me through everything — from registering the company, sorting out my business banking, understanding tax and VAT, and even helping me plan ahead with pension options. Their platform is easy to use, and whenever I have a question, I get quick, friendly, and knowledgeable responses.

I've been with Crunch for more than 5 years and they have always been incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, and responsive. They have helped me with my IT consulting limited company, including setting up a second one, payroll, as well as giving great advice on my and my wife's personal tax and self-assessment returns. The web-based software is easy to use, and they are very helpful (phone, email or web chat) when you have an issue, even if it's just that you have forgotten how to do something! Great value vs my other accountants too. Genuinely highly recommend these guys.

Excellent customer service and support. Accounts are stressful at the best of times but Crunch not only make things clear and straightforward but their staff and accountancy software have also taken the stress out of the process and can even help you understand your business and self-assessment processes much better.
Was recommended Crunch by a friend and would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to change accountants or sign up when they start either freelancing or as a company.

The accountants at Crunch are excellent advisors on all things VAT and tax. They guided me through the intricacies of VAT when I exceeded the threshold and needed to register.

Spoke to Crunch about my VAT position. They were very helpful and explained clearly what I need to know about the different schemes and how they relate to my company. There was nothing I needed to be worried about, but they were calm and non-judgemental about my concerns!

My account manager has been amazing at sorting out VAT and HMRC records, guiding me through all my questions and replying usually the same day to anything which I ask. I now have 100% confidence that the accounting and recording I am doing is correct and accurate, it takes a weight off my mind knowing I can rely on Crunch to support me.

Enormously approachable and great at explaining everything in a simple way without the use of unnecessary terminology. Looking forward to the self assessment now instead of dreading it.

I've been with Crunch for more than 5 years and they have always been incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, and responsive. They have helped me with my IT consulting limited company, including setting up a second one, payroll, as well as giving great advice on my and my wife's personal tax and self-assessment returns. The web-based software is easy to use, and they are very helpful (phone, email or web chat) when you have an issue, even if it's just that you have forgotten how to do something! Great value vs my other accountants too. Genuinely highly recommend these guys.

Excellent customer service and support. Accounts are stressful at the best of times but Crunch not only make things clear and straightforward but their staff and accountancy software have also taken the stress out of the process and can even help you understand your business and self-assessment processes much better.
Was recommended Crunch by a friend and would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to change accountants or sign up when they start either freelancing or as a company.

Crunch have been fantastic at helping me get to grips with my Self Assessment over the past 4 years and most recently Luke and Gemma have been brilliant in helping to sort out our mortgage. Really helpful and efficient service.

Always happy to helpInforming on time of when to fill or submit self-assessment, year end account review, etcTaking as long as needed with reconciliations over the phone and providing insight as to the best way of recording payments

I rang Crunch for some support regarding my self-assessment tax return today and was really helped by Olivia Beadle. She made me feel so much better about completing my return and ensured I understood the Crunch services available to me during the process. I now feel a bit less overwhelmed in how to use Free Agent and won’t be afraid to ask for support in the future! Thank you Crunch

Ready for accounting that pays for itself?

With Crunch, accounting isn’t just another business cost—it’s a smart investment. Our expert team helps you stay compliant and spot tax-saving opportunities along the way. From claiming expenses to using allowances properly, we’ll help you keep more of what you earn.

Average suggested savings of £3722

Frequently asked questions

Explore our FAQs for quick answers to your questions

Are there any disadvantages of online accounting software?

None whatsoever! Online accounting software allows you to manage your finances on the go, anytime, anywhere, safe in the knowledge that your data is secure. You can automate certain processes to cut down on your admin, connect your bank account straight to your software for swifter reconciliation, and stay compliant with the government’s Making Tax Digital scheme.

How do I use online accounting software?

When it comes to online accounting software, the golden rule is that you get out what you put in. Online software can help you stay organised and file your tax returns earlier and more accurately than ever, but if you don’t update it frequently, you’re setting yourself up for a fall.Once you’ve signed up to a Crunch account, the best working practice is to carve out time every day or week, depending on your schedule, to update your account with all of your latest expenses and records. The better your record-keeping, the greater the benefits of online accounting software!

How does online accounting software work?

It’s simpler than you might think! Once you’ve signed up to one of Crunch’s software packages, you’ll be able to log into your account. From there, you can set up your company’s basic information, recurring invoices and expenses, connect your business bank account through a secure Open Banking feed, and much, much more. If you ever need any assistance with your accounting software, you can visit our handy Help Centre for all the guides and support you need, or if you’re on a paid package (such as Pro or Premium), you can call or email your team of Chartered Certified Accountants for help.

How many businesses use online accounting software in the UK?

It’s hard to know for sure how many businesses in the UK are using online accounting software, but here’s what we do know: here at Crunch, we have an active client base of over 10,000 small business owners on our paid Crunch packages, and thousands more on our forever-free Crunch Free package.As we’ve mentioned, though, every business will need to use online accounting software as more tax returns become subject to MTD regulations.

How many types of accounting software are there?

If you’re a small business owner, or the director of your own limited company, we would recommend either our Limited Company Pro, Limited Company Premium, or Small Business packages. Which of these packages is right for your business will depend on factors such as your annual turnover, how many employees you have etc. In this instance, we’d recommend giving our friendly advisors a call, who will be happy to help you decide which package is right for you.

How safe is online accounting software?

As safe as houses! Information you store on your computer in files and spreadsheets can be attacked by viruses or lost due to technical failures, or even simple mismanagement and disorganisation - and lets not even go into all the things that could go wrong if you still keep your receipts in a ratty old shoebox. We use encrypted connections to reliably and securely store your data within our cloud accounting software, which not only gives you the peace of mind that your data is safe at all times, but also allows you to create reliable backups.

What factors should I consider when purchasing online accounting software?

It’s true that not all online accounting software is created equally. Many of our competitors will lock fundamentally important parts of their software behind paywalls, or restrict your usage (i.e. limiting you to a certain number of expenses per day/month etc.).When considering which online accounting software package you’d like to use, you need to be sure that everything you need is covered in your package. With Crunch Free, for instance, you get all of the basics, fundamental necessities of good online accounting software, such as expenses, invoices, and Open Banking. If you’re ever in doubt as to which package is right for you, don’t hesitate to call our wonderful advisors, who’ll be happy to help you better understand which of our packages meets your needs.

What is Cloud accounting software and does it differ from online accounting software?

Cloud accounting software and online accounting are, basically, one and the same. When you’re talking about online accounting software, you’re talking about the software itself and the actions you can perform within it (i.e. recording your expenses, sending invoices etc.). When you’re talking cloud accounting software, you’re referring to data storage and backups.At Crunch, our online accounting software is also cloud accounting software, so with us, you don’t have to worry!

What is online accounting software?

Online accounting software allows small business owners, sole traders, and limited company directors to manage their business finances in a secure and organised online system. Through online accounting software, you can track and automate your invoices and expenses, check your finances anytime, anywhere, and even file your tax returns

What is the best online accounting software for a small business?

At Crunch, we offer five different types of online accounting software packages: Crunch Free, Sole Trader Pro, Limited Company Pro, Limited Company Premium, and Small Business. Each of these packages are designed to support businesses as they grow and take on new responsibilities, each tailored to maximise the tax-efficiency of your business at each stage of its development

What is the best online accounting software for personal use?

If you’ve not yet officially gone self-employed, or if you’re comfortable using accounting software and managing your own finances, Crunch Free is the perfect package for you. As the name suggests, the software is completely free, allowing you to record all of your invoices, expenses, and more!

What is the best online accounting software for working from home?

Well that depends! All of our packages come with our market-leading online software, so in this instance, it would all boil down to whether you’re a limited company or a sole trader, and how big your operation is.In this instance, we’d recommend giving our friendly expert advisors a call and discussing your circumstances further. They’ll help you decide which package is the most appropriate for your business.

What’s the best online accounting software for a sole trader?

As a sole trader, we would recommend our Crunch Sole Trader Pro package. For just 1% of your earnings per month (capped at £300+VAT pm), you get access to not only our market-leading online accounting software, but also to your own team of expert client managers and Chartered Certified Accountants, available whenever you need.

Why should I use online accounting software?

Online accounting software can dramatically improve your organisation and simplify your tax responsibilities. Through handy add-ons like our Snap app, for example, you can streamline the process even further by simply taking a picture of your receipts and uploading them directly to your account. Thanks to the government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) scheme, you’re also legally required to file certain tax returns via online accounting software. This currently applies to returns such as VAT, but will soon extend to Income Tax, Corporation Tax, and potentially more.

Still have questions?

Software and service—perfectly paired

We combine clever software with real accountants, giving you the best of both worlds. Technology that works hard, and real people who’ve got your back.

We do more than just crunch numbers. We remind you of deadlines, spot tax breaks, handle registrations, and are happy to deal with HMRC so you don’t have to.

And when you need advice? We’ll explain things in plain English. No jargon, just answers that make sense for your business.

Integrated with

Take control of your accounts, today

Crunch’s effective software package includes being able to talk to an expert client manager and a Chartered Certified Accountant. You can count on Crunch to make you productive and profitable.