Why Is It Important to be VAT Registered?

You are obliged to register for Value Added Tax (VAT) when your turnover (that is all the income - not just the profit) from your business exceeds 70,000 in any twelve-month period. You can Vat Registered voluntarily before your turnover reaches the threshold or even if it is never will. Some businesses do this just to look bigger than they are, or to reclaim VAT on a large initial equipment purchase. Also, if you do not have to charge VAT because what you produce is zero-rated, then you may want to register in order to reclaim the VAT on your purchases. You need to complete the form VAT 1 (plus VAT 2 for partnerships) which is available from HMRC. You can also now do this online or ask an accountant to help. The process tends to average a couple of weeks though HMRC do sometimes have problems with their computer systems and it therefore takes longer.

If you are taking on an existing business then you need to decide whether to take on their VAT registration number or register afresh. Only take on the current VAT number of the business as a going concern if you are sure that there are no problems waiting to be uncovered. By using a solicitor or accountant when purchasing the business you should ensure that you consider all the relevant issues.

How does VAT work? How to Vat Register UK? Basically, the VAT you pay on invoices for your purchases is deducted from the VAT you charge and the difference paid to HM Revenue & Customs. This is usually done by completing a quarterly VAT return. Most small businesses are on the Cash Accounting Scheme which means you only pay VAT on bills that have been paid and receive credit for VAT on bills that you have paid. There is also an Annual Accounting Scheme which allows you to pay an agreed monthly fee against an estimated annual VAT liability, with a settlement at the end of the year. You should make sure you are as well informed as possible as VAT is a complex subject with special rules for many different types of businesses. There are, for example, schemes for selling second-hand clothes and one for tour operators, as well as a number of others where specific rules apply. You would be unwise to attempt to do it all yourself without professional advice in setting up your accounting system and registering for VAT.

You should also be aware of the VAT Flat Rate Scheme (FRS) where you pay VAT to HMRC at a fixed percentage of turnover according to your business sector, but without deducting VAT on purchases and services This can be beneficial in some industries, and certainly simplifies the quarterly VAT returns, but again you need to be aware of the facts before you decide to adopt the FRS as there can be unexpected drawbacks. You also need to be aware that the VAT you pay at the fixed rate is a percentage of your turnover plus VAT at the standard rate. So, if your flat rate is 10%, the VAT to be paid on a turnover of 10,000 is not 11,000 but 12,929 (11,750 x 10%).

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