Starting a new business? Get 40% off our accountancy services for 3 months! 😎

x

The end of the Brexit transition period means there are changes to VAT rules for businesses trading with the EU. Some of these changes might affect your business, even if you’re not VAT registered. You can also use the government’s Brexit transition website to see what you need to do next.

In most cases, the new VAT rules came into force on

1st January 2021.

 
The changes affect the processes and VAT for:

What does VAT have to do with Brexit?

To help you understand what Brexit means for VAT, it’s useful to understand how VAT normally works. Watch our introductory video to learn about VAT, or carry on reading below.

 

 

 

If a business registers for VAT, it charges VAT on any taxable sales that it makes. This usually means adding the cost of the VAT on to the customer’s bill. The customer pays what they owe to the business, including the VAT charge. The business effectively acts as a tax collector, and is responsible for paying the VAT it collects on to HMRC.

It’s a bit more complicated when the seller and the customer are in different countries. This is because of the way that VAT is usually charged on sales as well as imports, which can mean paying two lots of VAT.

To make easier and to encourage trade, EU VAT rules allow EU members to use special rates and handling processes to account for VAT. Since the end of the Brexit transition period the UK is no longer a member of the EU, or part of the EU VAT area.

This means that goods crossing the UK/EU border are now imports or exports.

 
The changes to VAT and excise handling might affect your business, even if you’re not VAT-registered.

Receiving goods from the EU (importing) after Brexit

Some VAT processes and procedures are now different. If your business imports in to the UK, then you need to be aware of:

 

Infographic showing the VAT changes being made to UK Imports

Postponed accounting for import VAT

Businesses importing goods from the EU will now pay import VAT when their shipment reaches the UK border. This already happens for imports from the rest of the world. Since the end of the Brexit transition period, it’s also the same for imports from the EU.

To help UK businesses manage the change, the UK government are introducing postponed accounting. This changes the way the businesses account for and pay import VAT.

Read our article Using Postponed Accounting for UK Import VAT to learn more.

 

VAT on low value imported goods worth less than £135

The responsibility for collecting VAT on imports with a low value also changed on 1st January 2021. Import tax is no longer due at the border on goods worth less than £135. That doesn’t mean there’s no VAT to pay.

 

Reclaiming VAT on goods you import from the EU

UK businesses were able to reclaim VAT on EU purchases using their UK VAT return to HMRC. This will come to an end on 31st March 2021, and there aren’t any other arrangements in place.

As it stands, you won’t be able to reclaim VAT you pay to EU sellers after the end of March. Get those claims in!
 

Sending goods to the EU (exporting) after the Brexit transition period

The Brexit deal includes changes to processes and procedures for UK businesses which send goods to the EU.

These include:

  • The process for VAT on exports from the UK to the EU.
  • Changes to rules on distance selling, which affects UK businesses selling directly to EU consumers (B2C sales).
  • The export process, including making declarations.

 

Providing goods and services across the UK border

There are VAT rules which affect businesses which supply services or make digital sales across the UK border.

This includes:

  • UK businesses selling to the EU
  • EU businesses selling the UK
  • Businesses that aren’t in the UK or the EU, but make digital sales to those places.

Since the end of the Brexit transition period some of VAT rules on services and digital sales are different, including changes to VAT MOSS. This affects where certain types of seller must register for VAT, and the process for charging it.

Read our article about VAT on Cross Border Services and Digital Sales after Brexit for more information.

 

Learn more about our online accounting services. Call 020 3355 4047 to talk to one of the team, or grab a free instant quote online.

 

Comprehensive VAT return service

From only £40.00 per month

Learn more

About The Author

Elizabeth Hughes

A content writer specialising in business, finance, software, and beyond. I'm a wordsmith with a penchant for puns and making complex subjects accessible. Learn more about Elizabeth.

More posts by this author
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Read more posts...

November 2024 Client of the Month: Bingham Carbon Solutions Limited

This month we spoke to Sean Bingham, Managing Director of Bingham Carbon Solutions Limited! Bingham Carbon Solutions Limited | LinkedIn Hey Sean! Tell…

Read More

UK Tax Rates, Thresholds and Allowances for the Self-Employed

Read our guide to UK tax rates and thresholds for sole traders, limited companies, partners and partnerships, employers, and other businesses. UK…

Read More

Do I Need to Pay Tax on Christmas Presents?

In general, you don’t need to worry about paying taxes on your Christmas presents. You can unwrap your gifts in peace without…

Read More
Back to Blog...

Confirm Transactions

The number of monthly transactions you have entered based on your turnover seem high. A transaction is one bookkeeping entry such as a sale, purchase, payment or receipt. Are you sure this is correct?

Yes, submit my quote
No, let me change it

Please contact our sales team if you’re unsure

VAT Returns

It is unlikely you will need this service, unless you are voluntarily registered for VAT.

Are you sure this is correct?

Yes, the business is VAT registered
No, let me change it

Call us on 020 3355 4047 if you’re not sure.

Bookkeeping

You will receive our bookkeeping software Pandle for free, as part of your package.

You can use this to complete your own bookkeeping, or we can provide a quote to complete your bookkeeping for you.

Please select and option below:

I will do my own bookkeeping
I want you to do my bookkeeping

Call us on 020 3355 4047 if you’re not sure.