When must a company be registered for VAT?

A company must register for VAT if the supplies made by the company are subject to VAT and either:

1. turnover has exceeded a prescribed figure, the VAT threshold, in the preceding 12 months; or
2. it is expected that the turnover will exceed the threshold within the forthcoming 30 days.

The VAT threshold is £61,000 (from 1st April 2006) and the standard rate of VAT is currently 17.5%, though some goods and services are taxed at 0% (zero rated).

Following registration with Customs & Excise a company will be given a VAT registration number from HM Customs and Excise and must print this number on all sales invoices. Once registered the company must charge VAT at the appropriate rate on all the sales which are subject to VAT.

A company may register voluntarily for VAT and this may be advantageous if the company's sales are substantially of things which are zero rated (e.g. books) or the company supplies only other VAT registered businesses.

Once registered the company must make a quarterly VAT return to Customs and Excise and include with it payment of the VAT due. This is calculated by deducting the VAT the company has paid (the input tax) from the VAT it has charged its customers (the output tax).

Customs & Excise own website gives a great deal of information.