Advertisement
Editorial standards

How we write, fact-check and update our content

We're a small site about UK VAT. Getting the details wrong can cost you real money, so this page is the public version of our internal editorial process.

Last reviewed: 6 May 2026

Advertisement

Qualified authors

ACCA or FCCA only

Two-pair-of-eyes review

Every article fact-checked

Primary sources only

HMRC and gov.uk cited

Living documents

Updated when rules change

Who writes for us

Every named article on this site is written by a UK-qualified accountant. We don't accept guest posts and we don't use AI-generated copy as published content. Specifically, all authors must hold one of the following:

Each author has a public profile page on this site listing their qualification, years of experience, professional history and the topics they cover. You can see the current editorial team below.

The review process

Every article goes through the same five-step process before it goes live, and the same process applies whenever we materially update an existing piece.

  1. Drafting against current guidance

    The author writes against HMRC's published guidance as it stands on the date of writing. We capture the version of HMRC pages we cite (Wayback Machine) so we can prove what the guidance said when we published.

  2. Peer fact-check by a second qualified accountant

    A different qualified author reviews every numerical claim, every cited rule, every example calculation. Articles cannot publish until this reviewer signs off in writing.

  3. Plain-English edit

    An editor checks readability, removes jargon and tightens the structure. We aim for a Flesch reading ease score above 50 — accountancy content frequently scores well below that and we think this is part of why most VAT content is unhelpful.

  4. Source verification

    Every external link is clicked and read end-to-end before publication. Every cited section number, threshold figure and date is checked against the live source.

  5. Publication and dating

    The final article carries a "Published on" date, an "Updated on" date when relevant, and a "Reviewed by" attribution naming the second accountant. These dates are honest and are not used as cosmetic SEO refreshes.

How we source claims

We follow a simple hierarchy. The further down this list a source sits, the less we rely on it.

Tier 1 — preferred

Primary statute and HMRC guidance

VAT Act 1994, Finance Act updates, HMRC VAT Notices (especially 700 series), HMRC manuals, statutory instruments. This is what we lead with.

Tier 2 — supporting

Tax tribunal decisions and professional body guidance

First-tier and Upper Tribunal VAT cases, ACCA and ICAEW technical updates, CIOT briefings.

Tier 3 — context only

Commentary and secondary sources

Big Four publications, mainstream tax press, accountancy journals. We use these for context and never as the sole source for a factual claim.

We don't cite

AI-generated summaries, forum posts, untitled blogs, our own older articles

Self-citation creates a closed loop. AI summaries hallucinate. Forum advice may be brilliant or catastrophic and we have no way to tell.

Every article on this site has a "Sources & further reading" section listing the primary sources. If you can't see one, the article shouldn't have been published — please tell us.

Updates and corrections

UK VAT changes — thresholds, rates, schemes, deadlines. Here's what we do about it.

When we update articles

How we mark updates

Every article carries an "Updated on" date that reflects a real, substantive update. We do not bump dates cosmetically to game search rankings. If we make a material correction (a wrong number, a misstated rule), we leave a visible correction note at the foot of the article describing what was changed and why.

Found an error?

Email editorial@reversevatcalculator.co.uk with the article URL and the issue. We aim to acknowledge within two working days and publish a correction within five working days for verified factual errors.

Editorial independence

This site is supported by display ads, served by Google AdSense. That's our only revenue source for editorial content. We do not run sponsored articles, paid placements, affiliate links or "best of" lists with commercial relationships. If that ever changes we will declare it on this page first and label affected articles clearly.

Authors are paid a flat editorial fee per article, not per word and not by performance. They have no incentive to recommend any particular software, service or scheme.

What this site is not

We aim for our content to be the most accurate plain-English UK VAT material on the internet. But:

  • Articles are general information, not personalised tax advice. Your specific circumstances may produce a different answer.
  • None of our authors are acting as your accountant when you read an article. There is no client relationship and we accept no liability for actions taken based solely on our content.
  • For decisions with material tax exposure (registration, schemes, large transactions, complex situations), please consult a qualified accountant who can review your specific facts.

Spotted an error or have feedback?

We'd rather hear it now than have you act on something wrong.

Get in touch