We’ve all paid VAT before on a product or service – it’s everywhere. But when it’s time to register your own business for VAT, you’re probably wondering how much you actually need to charge. The short answer is it depends.

There are different VAT rates depending on what exactly it is you are selling, and it’s up to you to ensure you get this right. But don’t worry, we’re here to help!

VAT (short for Value Added Tax) is a consumption tax added to the price of most goods and services, and other taxable supplies. It’s charged as a percentage of the original price and added to the sale.

There are different VAT rules depending on your business model. For example, if you run a charity, you’ll have different rules to a for-profit company. In most cases, businesses with a taxable turnover of £90,000 or more will need to register for VAT, and then charge it on the taxable sales they make.

Businesses can also choose to register for VAT voluntarily, which can sometimes be a tax-efficient way to claim back VAT on any goods or services provided by other VAT-registered businesses.

There are three main rates that VAT registered businesses should charge on taxable sales.

UK VAT rates for 2024/25

 
It’s worth noting anything zero rated will still need to be recorded in your VAT return, even though your customers technically won’t pay any VAT.

Registering for VAT is simple, and most businesses can register online. You’ll need your Government Gateway user ID and password to log in to your account, and then other bits of information relating to your business structure. For example, if you run a limited company, you’ll need to fill in your company name, bank account details, the nature of your business, and turnover.

If you don’t have bookkeeping or invoicing software to do it for you, you can use a simple formula to calculate the amount of VAT you need to charge:

 
It’s useful to think about what registering for VAT means for your pricing. Adding VAT to your sales can mean that your customers are put off by having to pay more. Another option is to absorb the extra amount yourself, but this can affect the amount of profit you make.

A VAT return is the form you complete to let HMRC know the amount of VAT you have charged on sales, and paid to other businesses.

You’ll normally make a digital submission through MTD software every three months to report what happened in the previous ‘accounting period’ (the time period covered by the return). Some VAT schemes, such as the VAT Annual Accounting Scheme have different reporting requirements.

You’ll also need to pay the VAT you owe as per the deadline on your VAT return, and you can do this online.
 

If you run a VAT registered business, it’s important to charge the correct VAT rate on all the goods and services you sell, excluding anything that may be exempt. If you buy from another VAT registered business, they’ll charge your business VAT on any taxable items or services.

• Output VAT is the VAT calculated and charged on your business’s goods or services. Any business that’s also VAT-registered will be able to claim this amount back.
• Input VAT is the VAT your business pays on purchases. If you’re VAT registered, you can claim this amount back.

When you submit your VAT return, you’ll either pay HMRC the difference between the two, or claim it back – depending on which one is higher.

It’s another one of the reasons why good bookkeeping is so essential for every business! Keep meticulous records to ensure you can reclaim everything you’re entitled to.

VAT invoices are different to the regular invoices you sent to clients before registering and need to include:

• The time of supply
• The date of issue of the document
• The total VAT chargeable, expressed in sterling
• A description to clearly identify the goods or services supplied
• If your products or services are exempt or zero rated and the reason for this
• The gross total amount payable excluding VAT

Check out the GOV website for a full list of things to include in your VAT invoice.

The short answer is yes. For example, if your business only sells goods or services exempt from paying VAT, such as education and training or insurance, finance, and credit, you cannot register for VAT, or claim any back.

You can apply for an exemption if you mainly sell zero-rated goods, but this means you cannot claim any VAT back from your business expenses. Some businesses can also be partly exempt. You can check out the gov website for more information.

 
We know VAT can be tricky to understand. If you need any help, call our team on 020 3355 4047. If you’re looking for an accountant, get an instant quote online today.