BookSnap · UK bookkeeping decision cockpit

VAT. MTD. Flat-rate. Before HMRC asks.

Free decision tools for UK SME bookkeepers, accountants and finance leads. VAT registration threshold check, Making Tax Digital readiness, flat-rate scheme savings. Plain English. HMRC-aware. Refreshed against the 2025-26 thresholds.

Run the VAT + flat-rate calc → All calculators
£90k
VAT threshold
20%
Standard VAT
£0
To find out
60s
Per answer
Hero calculator · /calc/vat-flat-rate

Should you register? Should you use the flat-rate scheme?

Four fields. The VAT you'd owe, the flat-rate alternative, the cash difference, and whether your business qualifies as a "limited cost trader" (which kills most flat-rate savings).

VAT-inclusive total of standard + zero + reduced-rate sales.
What you'd reclaim under the standard scheme.
HMRC sector list — your accountant can confirm.
If goods are <2% of turnover (or <£1k/yr) you're a "limited cost trader" → forced 16.5% flat rate.

BookSnap is decision support · not tax advice · operator stays accountable

The other four

Four more answers before HMRC asks.

/calc/mtd-readiness

MTD for VAT + IT readiness

Are your records digital? Bridge software? Sub £30k? £30-50k? Above £50k? Your MTD obligation by phase.

/calc/quarterly-margin

Quarterly gross margin tracker

Three months in, three months out. Are you actually trading profitably or burning the bank balance?

/calc/payroll-paye-ni

Payroll PAYE + NI estimate

Director's salary + dividend split. Optimum 2025-26 salary for tax-efficient extraction.

/calc/corp-tax-bands

Corporation tax + marginal relief

£50k small-profits / £250k main rate bands + marginal relief calc. Plus quarterly payment trigger.

Also useful

Once the books are clean…

BookSnap covers the books. These cover the receipts, the sole-trader return and the company formation.

FAQ

Plain answers.

Is BookSnap a bookkeeping system?
No. BookSnap is the layer BEFORE your bookkeeping system — the decision intelligence that tells you which scheme to pick. Pair it with Xero / QuickBooks / FreeAgent for the actual ledger.
What's the 2025-26 VAT threshold?
£90,000 rolling 12-month taxable turnover. Hit it and you must register within 30 days. Deregistration threshold £88,000.
Who's a "limited cost trader"?
Under the flat-rate scheme, if your VAT-inclusive goods spend is less than 2% of VAT-inclusive turnover (or less than £1k/year) you're forced onto a 16.5% flat rate — which usually wipes out the saving. The calc flags this automatically.
When does MTD for Income Tax start?
April 2026 for sole traders + landlords with >£50k qualifying income. April 2027 for >£30k. The MTD readiness calc walks the phase.
Decision support, not tax advice. Operator stays accountable.