Value Added Tax (VAT) is a tax collected on the sale of your goods or services and relinquished on the purchasing of the goods or services that will be used in your business. The administration of VAT in the UK is managed by HM Revenue and Customs.  

Non-UK Company registration for VAT in the UK.

Foreign companies may register for VAT in the UK without the need to form a local company; this is known as non-resident VAT trading.

Foreign companies must register for UK VAT immediately if they are providing taxable supplies; there is no longer any non-resident VAT registration threshold.

EU and non-EU companies are permitted to register for VAT in the UK without the need to appoint a local fiscal representative.

There are strict rules on the situations where a registration is permitted. Common scenarios which require a UK VAT registration include:

• importing goods into the EU via the UK;
• buying and selling goods within the UK;
• holding goods in a warehouse in the UK as stock;
• selling goods from the UK to other EU countries;
• acquiring goods from other EU countries into the UK;
• distance selling to private individuals in the UK from another EU country, e.g. internet retailing.

Registering non-UK bisinesses for UK VAT generally takes around four to six weeks, although this can vary.

Completion of VAT(VAT01) form for registration.

Our experts will, in consultation with you, complete the VAT01 form so that your business can successfully apply for its VAT registration number. Once completed, we will email you the completed form to sign. After you have put your signature on the document, you can either post it back to us or scan and email it.

Submission of the VAT01 form to the correct department.

There are two different HMRC offices handling different types of VAT registration based upon your company’s history and your personal history. To make sure you receive your VAT number as quickly as possible, we will submit the form to the relevant VAT registration office address.

Receipt of VAT number.

You will receive your VAT number directly from HMRC. Around three quarters of all VAT numbers are received within 14 working days. At busier times, HMRC may take up to a month to provide you with your VAT number.

Application to join a specialist scheme.

If, after consultation with our team or with your accountant, you decide that your business would benefit from joining either the Flat Rate Scheme, the Annual Accounting Scheme, or the Annual Accounting Scheme plus the Flat Rate Scheme to the correct office, we will make the necessary application on your behalf. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to sign and return a hard copy of the application form we fill in on your behalf.

Acknowledgement that you have joined an alternative scheme.

You will receive notification direct from HMRC, normally within 14 working days, that your application to join either the Flat Rate Scheme, the Annual Accounting Scheme, or the Annual Accounting Scheme plus the Flat Rate Scheme to the correct office has been successful.

Additionally, we can also assist you in obtaining an EORI number "Economic Operators Registration and Identification number".