Which of the following can be considered a disadvantage of the annual accounting scheme?

The annual accounting scheme has various advantages and disadvantages, and one notable disadvantage is related to the way interim payments are handled. When businesses see a decrease in turnover, they might still be required to make higher interim payments based on previous years’ profits. This leads to a situation where cash flow can be negatively impacted, as the business might find itself paying more tax than it is able to afford, particularly during leaner times.

Interim payments are calculated based on estimated profits, and when those estimates do not align with actual earnings, it can strain the business financially. Businesses under the annual accounting scheme may also have to deal with the pressure of making these payments even when their current financial situation may not warrant such high outflows, making option B highlight a significant drawback of the scheme.

The other options present alternative elements of the annual accounting scheme, but they do not encapsulate a disadvantage in the same way. For instance, the extra month for turnaround and immediate refunds upon submission refer to processing benefits rather than challenges. Meanwhile, requiring no payments until the end of the year is another advantage of this scheme rather than a drawback.