Which scheme simplifies the administration burden of VAT by allowing only one return submission?

The annual accounting scheme is designed specifically to simplify the VAT administration for businesses by allowing them to submit only one VAT return per year, rather than quarterly or monthly returns. This scheme is particularly beneficial for smaller businesses or those with straightforward accounting processes, as it reduces the frequency of administrative tasks associated with VAT reporting.

Under the annual accounting scheme, businesses pay their VAT liability in advance through either quarterly payments based on estimated VAT, or they can choose to make one single payment at the end of the year, following the submission of their return. This not only streamlines the process but also enhances cash flow management, since businesses can better align their VAT payments with their actual turnover.

In contrast, other schemes like the cash accounting scheme allow businesses to account for VAT based on cash flow but do not consolidate returns into a single submission. The flat rate scheme simplifies the VAT calculations to a fixed percentage of turnover but still requires multiple return submissions. The standard scheme entails regular reporting and compliance with standard VAT rules and is the most complex in terms of administration. Therefore, the annual accounting scheme stands out as the correct choice for its specific benefit of having only one return submission annually.