On 6 April 2011 Flick Pick, aged 23, commenced employment with 3D Ltd as a film critic. On 1 January 2012 she commenced in partnership with Art Reel running a small cinema, preparing accounts to 30 April. The following information is available for the tax year 2011–12:

Value added tax (VAT)
(1) The partnership voluntarily registered for VAT on 1 January 2012, and immediately began using the flat rate scheme to calculate the amount of VAT payable. The relevant flat rate scheme percentage for the partnership’s trade is 12%.

(2) For the quarter ended 31 March 2012 the partnership had standard rated sales of £59,700, and these were all made to members of the general public. For the same period standard rated expenses amounted to £27,300. Both figures are stated inclusive of VAT.

(3) The partnership has two private boxes in its cinema that can be booked on a special basis by privileged customers. Such customers can book the boxes up to two months in advance, at which time they have to pay a 25% deposit. An invoice is then given to the customer on the day of the screening of the film, with payment of the balance of 75% required within seven days. For VAT purposes, the renting out of the cinema boxes is a supply of services.

Required:
(d) (i) Explain whether or not it was beneficial for the partnership to have used the VAT flat rate scheme for the quarter ended 31 March 2012;

(iii) Advise the partnership as to when it should account for output VAT on the renting out of its private boxes to privileged customers. (4 marks)