Experience the difference
Assisting your academy be it a school or college with specialist VAT advice
Leading Accountants for Academies, Academy VAT
Dedicated information for Academy Schools and Colleges
We know how easy it can be to get lost in the VAT maze and our website has been specifically designed to help you through it! With our experience as leading Accountants for Academies advising on treatment of VAT we are able to answer questions that you may have regarding your academy.
Our website is an easy to use guide which is packed with valuable information and expert guidance about registration and the rules which apply to everyday transactions in your academy.
We are now seeing Colleges converting to Academy status and therefore this website is equally applicable to colleges and schools.
Here's what we can assist you with:
- The treatment for numerous different transactions
- Information on the different ways an academy can be structured and organised
- Inform whether it is desirable (or necessary!) to register for VAT
- Reclaiming the correct amount of VAT on costs
- The VAT recoverable using voluntary claim Forms VAT126
- Planning ideas to help improve recovery of VAT
Academy Accounting means adapting to a new accounting and financial reporting regime and dealing with the requirements of the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) which can be daunting. Our specialist Academy Accountants are here to guide you through it.
What our clients say
In all their dealings with Eggar’s School, we have found HWB staff to be very professional, knowledgeable and approachable. They do an excellent job of keeping us informed as they are always at the end of the phone, host regular School Business Manager meetings, send out EFSA Updates and have set up this VAT web advice link, which is very user friendly.
Alan Rolfe has assisted efficiently on any VAT queries, with clear and concise advice, especially with unusual aspects of VAT. i.e. Invoicing for Head Teacher secondment.
Alan Rolfe, as with all the staff from HWB, are always extremely friendly and helpful, and provide an excellent service.
Latest Feeds
At our September Academy Forum, we asked attendees:
"Which ATH 2026 change is likely to require the most work for you and your finance teams within your trust this year?"
The results highlighted some clear priorities:
-Inclusion and SEND was the top concern, receiving 47% of votes.
-Procurement followed in second place with 27%.
-Governance and Internal Scrutiny accounted for 20% of responses.
-CFO Qualifications received 7% of the vote.
-Interestingly, Financial Stability and Executive Pay did not receive any votes.
If you couldn`t join us at the forum, we`d love to hear your perspective. Which ATH 2026 change do you think will require the most attention and resource within your trust this year?
Let us know in the comments below.
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Community groups invited to apply for £2.5m funding
Community organisations across England will be able to bid in the next wave of the Common Ground Award. The Common Ground Award 2026 - 2027 is a competitive grant fund providing capital investment to organisations in England.
The award provides up to £2.5 million for projects, groups and organisations to bring people together and transform their community. It was first launched last year and is now open to a second wave of applicants.
It backs groups that know their communities and are already helping people from different backgrounds meet, mix and build trust. One example could be turning a tired community building into a more welcoming hub, buying equipment so more people can take part in local activities, or creating spaces where neighbours can meet, talk and bridge divides.
The next round will provide up to £2.5 million in funding, with individual applicants able to bid for between £20,000 and £50,000 to improve the facilities, spaces and equipment that help them continue delivering vital work in their communities.
Groups of organisations working together can also apply for grants of up to £250,000, helping them increase their impact.
Individual organisations can apply for £20,000 to £50,000. In exceptional cases, applications may be considered up to £100,000 where there is clear evidence of need and significant expected impact.
Consortium applications can apply for between £100,000 and £250,000.
The fund supports capital costs only, including the construction or renovation of facilities, spaces and equipment that enable organisations to bring people from different backgrounds together.
The application for the 2026-27 fund can be found by clicking the link in our bio.
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Legal requirements for company websites in the UK
Creating or maintaining a company website in the UK involves more than good design and usability — several legal obligations apply to all businesses, with additional rules for those selling online or processing personal data.
Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio
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Caption: Almost 7 million adults in the dark about their State Pension
HMRC is encouraging people to check their State Pension forecast using the HMRC app during Pension Awareness Week.
Research shows 45 to 54-year-olds are more likely than any other age group to have never checked their State Pension, despite it being a key time for retirement planning.
One in eight adults have never checked their State Pension forecast.
People can use the HMRC app to check their State Pension forecast and top up National Insurance contributions, this follows pension awareness week, last week.
Almost 7 million adults could be missing out on information to help prepare them for their retirement.
Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio.
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Directors loan accounts – Avoid the unexpected tax trap
Company owners often withdraw monies from their business that is not salary or dividends, this borrowing can be useful but if it is not managed properly tax charges will arise.
To read the full article please click the link in our bio.
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HMRC contacts self-employed people about National Insurance gaps
HMRC is writing to some self-employed individuals whose National Insurance (NI) records may contain gaps that could affect their State Pension.
Read full article by clicking the link in our bio.
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Companies House to bring in changes to accounts filing from April 2028
Companies House will introduce changes to accounts filing due to governmental reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCT Act 2023).
Read full article by clicking the link in our bio.
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Divorce and tax: what to check before you sign
How separation affects the family home, pensions, investments, business shares and future tax bills and why the after-tax value of a settlement is rarely the same as the headline figure.
Read full article by clicking the link in our bio.
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