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 Custom.

VAT registration is only compulsory once the turnover of your company exceeds or is likely to exceed the government taxable turnover threshold (which will remain at £85,000 until 31 March 2024) for any rolling 12 month period.

A foreign business must register for VAT in the UK as soon as a taxable supply is made. Registration thresholds no longer apply to non-established companies. To use VAT Registration Service for non-UK businesses click here.

Company registration for VAT in the UK.

A business registered for VAT will charge it on to other business and consumers in the UK. The good thing is that VAT registered business are able to recharge the amount of VAT that has been charged to them. The negative is that non-vat registered business and consumers are not able to claim back the VAT. Effectively it is a “sale of goods” tax to consumers.

You have to register within 30 days of the end of the month when you went over the threshold £85,000. Your effective date of registration is the first day of the second month after you go over the threshold.

You can choose to register for VAT if your turnover is less than £85,000 (‘voluntary registration’).

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".