Accountants for Event Management Companies

VAT is generally due when a payment is received or an invoice issued, whichever happens first, so deposits create a VAT liability before the event. Income for accounts purposes is generally recognised when the event takes place, so year-end deposits are usually deferred income.

Admission to an event supplied to a business customer is usually taxed where the event takes place, so an event abroad may require overseas VAT registration. Organising services supplied to a business client may follow the general business-to-business rule. Each contract should be mapped before invoicing.

Whether a retained deposit or cancellation fee is subject to VAT depends on the contract terms and what the customer receives. HMRC's position on retained deposits has changed in recent years, so we review your terms rather than applying a blanket rule.

Production crew, stage managers and hosts are often freelance. Status depends on the working arrangement, not the label. Where workers are on payroll, short engagements still require RTI, holiday pay and auto-enrolment assessment.

A event management company files statutory accounts at Companies House, normally nine months after its accounting reference date, and a CT600 within 12 months of the end of its Corporation Tax accounting period. Most smaller companies pay Corporation Tax nine months and one day after the period ends; the main rate is 25%, with the 19% small profits rate up to £50,000 and marginal relief between £50,000 and £250,000.

VAT registration is required once taxable turnover passes £90,000 in a rolling 12 months, or is expected to within 30 days. Paying any salary, including to a director, brings PAYE and Real Time Information reporting, and employing eligible staff brings automatic-enrolment pension duties. The confirmation statement is a separate annual filing.

Thresholds, rates and deadlines reflect the 2026/27 UK position at the content update date. Check current GOV.UK guidance, or ask us, before relying on them for your own company.

We start with a free consultation to understand how you invoice, buy, pay people and get paid. You then receive a written scope and fee before chargeable work begins, covering bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, year-end accounts, CT600 and director Self Assessment as agreed.

Advisory work such as management accounts, cash-flow forecasting, pre-year-end planning or specialist reliefs is quoted separately rather than assumed to be included. Where a question needs specialist legal or tax advice outside our scope, we say so.