ACCA Registered
Xero Certified Adviser
FreeAgent Partner
ICO Registered
Where we work

Manchester. London. Wherever your agency is based.

Remote-firstUK-wide clientsIn-person when it matters
alto.

ACCA accountants for UK creative and marketing agencies. Specialists in agency cash flow, retainer math, and director tax planning.

Alto Accounting Ltd86–90 Paul Street
London EC2A 4NE
Company No. 15343741
Registered practice

Services

  • Bookkeeping
  • Tax Planning
  • Payroll
  • Outsourced FD
  • Xero Accounting
  • R&D Tax Credits
  • VAT Returns
  • Small Agencies

Free tools

  • Salary Calculator
  • R&D Tax Calculator
  • Profitability Calculator
  • Runway Calculator
  • IR35 Checker
  • VAT Calculator
  • Tax Deadlines Calendar

Agency types

  • PPC Agencies
  • SEO Agencies
  • Web Design Agencies
  • Digital Marketing
  • Video Production
  • Branding Agencies
  • PR & Comms
  • Social Media Agencies
  • Creative Studios
  • Advertising Agencies
  • Content Creators
  • Ecommerce Agencies
  • View All Services →

Popular guides

  • Director Salary 2026/27
  • Dubai Relocation Guide
  • Agency Profitability Guide
  • Creator Tax Checklist
  • UAE Expat Tax Checklist
  • View All Guides →

Comparisons

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Locations

  • London
  • Manchester
  • Birmingham
  • Leeds
  • Bristol
  • Edinburgh
  • Glasgow
  • Liverpool
  • Cambridge
  • Cardiff
  • Nottingham
  • Brighton
  • Newcastle
  • All locations →

Company

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Agency tax brief

Practical finance for UK agency founders

Monthly. Deadlines, quick wins, nothing fluffy.

© 2026 Alto Accounting Ltd
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PricingBook a call
Run monthly
Monthly reportingCash flow forecastingOutsourced FDYear-end accounts
Tax & compliance
Tax planningPayrollR&D tax creditsVATXero accounting
Featured
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The monthly close

How we close your books

A signed-off report by working day 10 — P&L, cash position, and what matters this month.

See how we close
By agency type
Creative studiosPaid-media agenciesDigital marketingBranding agenciesContent creatorsSee all agency types
By situation
Small agencies
Why specialist
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Specialist vs generalist

Why a specialist?

Generalist accountants miss what matters for agencies: WIP, utilisation, retainer deferrals, and the rhythm of project work.

Read the case
Calculators
Salary & dividendAgency profitabilityAgency runwayIR35 status checkerR&D tax creditVAT registrationSRT day counterAll tools
Free guides
£
Most read

The agency cash-flow guide

A practical playbook for surviving a slow month: forecast, runway, retainer math, and where founders usually break.

Open the guide
Run a better agency
Agency profitabilityPricing strategyUtilisation rateRetainer pricingValuation & exit
Tax & compliance
Salary & dividend 2026/27IR35 for agenciesSole trader vs limitedMaking Tax DigitalSelf-assessment 2026All articles
Featured
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Latest

Autumn Budget 2025

What Rachel Reeves' Budget changes mean for UK agency owners and small businesses — the items worth acting on.

Read the breakdown
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Replies in 24 hours, usually same dayhello@alto-accounting.com
Home/Services/VAT
VAT

VAT Registration & Returns for Creative Agencies

VAT gets complicated quickly when you are dealing with client recharges, overseas clients, and digital services. We make sure you are on the right scheme and filing correctly.

Get Your VAT Sorted →See pricing
ACCA registered practice · Specialist agency accountants
Starting from £200/mo · Fixed monthly fee
Replies in 24 hours, usually same day
ReturnMTD · Q1 filed
Q2JUL · SEPQ3OCT · DECQ4JAN · MARQ1APR · JUNVATTHRESHOLD£90,000MTD
MTD compliant · Quarterly
01Sound familiar?

The challenges agencies tell us about every week.

If any of these read like your week, you're in the right place.

£90K!

You are not sure if you should be VAT registered

The VAT registration threshold catches many growing agencies by surprise. Once you breach it, you have a legal obligation to register. Late registration means penalties and interest.

01
×✓WRONG · RIGHT

You are on the wrong VAT scheme

Flat Rate, Standard Rate, Cash Accounting. The right scheme depends on your cost structure and client base. Being on the wrong one could be costing you thousands each year.

02
UKEUVAT

International clients and suppliers add complexity

Supplying services to EU or international clients, using overseas software tools, or paying foreign contractors all create VAT complexities that most agencies get wrong.

03
02Right fit

This service is built for you if…

Four signs you're ready for proper vat. If you tick most of them, let's talk.

Right fit checklist
  • You are approaching the £90k VAT threshold
  • You are already VAT registered and need quarterly returns filed
  • You deal with media passthrough and need flat rate scheme advice
  • You want to understand the best VAT scheme for your agency
IncludesAgency-only · ACCA registered · Fixed monthly fee
03What’s included

Everything you need, handled by specialists.

Each line in your monthly fee. No surprise add-ons.

VATGB · ALTO£

VAT registration and scheme selection

We register you for VAT and advise on the most beneficial scheme for your agency, whether that is Flat Rate, Standard Rate, or Cash Accounting.

01
Q1Q2Q3Q4

Quarterly VAT return preparation and filing

We prepare and file your VAT returns via Making Tax Digital compliant software, ensuring all transactions are correctly coded and the return is submitted on time.

02
CROSS-BORDER

VAT on cross-border services

We advise on the VAT treatment of services supplied to or received from overseas, including the reverse charge mechanism and place of supply rules.

03
VATPASSTHROUGH

Media passthrough VAT treatment

When you pass media spend through to clients, the VAT treatment needs careful handling. We make sure disbursements and recharges are treated correctly.

04

VAT health checks and scheme reviews

We periodically review your VAT position to check you are still on the most beneficial scheme and flag any compliance risks before they become problems.

05

Starting from £200/mo

Exact pricing depends on your transaction volume and complexity. We quote a fixed monthly fee after a 15-minute discovery call — no surprises.

See all plans
04Questions

Things agencies ask us about vat.

05By agency type

VAT Registration & Returns for Agencies for every agency type.

We tailor vat to each vertical — from PPC agencies billing media to PR firms running retainers.

01PPC Agencies02SEO Agencies03Web Design04Digital Marketing05Video Production06Branding07Social Media08Creative Studios09Advertising10Content Creators11Ecommerce12PR & Comms
ACCA Registered PracticeReplies in 24h

Get your VAT sorted. Book a free call

15 minutes. No obligation, no hard sell. Just a genuine conversation about your agency's vat.

Get Your VAT Sorted →