Yes it is a right pain, I don't have a clue what I am going to do so will listen to this thread with interest.Yes i do my own vat , it is a pain but would like to try software !
www.quickfile.co.uk
Dead easy. Feed it your bank statements, identify some things then next time it does it automatically for you. Great support, inexpensive. I have used it for years. Push a button for VAT, invoices, quotes etc are easy too.
No laborious entering at all!
There are others similar Kashflow and Freeagent are two that spring to mind.
Oh an it is £45 a YEAR not £18/£27 a month !