Category: Value Added Tax


  • Changes to VAT on donations to charities

    The government is consulting on new VAT relief for goods donated to charities for free use. Could this fix an unfair gap in current rules? Have your say by 21 July 2025. A new joint consultation from HM Treasury and HMRC, titled “VAT Treatment

  • Understanding VAT Bad Debt Relief

    Struggling with unpaid invoices? If you’ve paid VAT to HMRC but never received payment from your customer, you may be able to reclaim that VAT. Learn how bad debt relief works and whether switching to cash accounting could ease your VAT woes. The

  • VAT if you sell your business

    When selling a business, the Transfer of a Business as a Going Concern (TOGC) rules can allow the transaction to be VAT-free if key conditions are met. This prevents unnecessary VAT charges and ensures compliance with HMRC. Learn how TOGC applies to

  • How VAT Payments on Account Work

    Businesses owing over £2.3 million in VAT annually must make advance payments on account. These are based on the previous year’s VAT liability and paid in instalments. Late payments incur penalties, but adjustments may be possible for fluctuating

  • VAT and the goods you use in your own business

    Using business goods instead of selling them is usually VAT-free, but some cases require VAT payments. These "taxable self-supplies" include cars taken from stock and certain buildings. Read on to see how to stay compliant. If your

  • What’s included in your VAT return

    With a £90,000 VAT registration threshold, many UK businesses might wonder whether to register voluntarily. Understanding how to balance output and input VAT can help optimise cash flow and avoid costly mistakes with HMRC. The current VAT

  • Health services exempt from VAT

    Health professionals providing medical services may be exempt from VAT if their work falls within their registered profession and primarily protects, maintains, or restores health. HMRC outlines specific exempt services, including diagnosis and

  • Claiming VAT on pre-registration purchases

    Businesses can reclaim VAT on pre-registration expenses if they relate to taxable supplies made after VAT registration. The rules differ for goods and services, with time limits of 4 years for goods and 6 months for services. Proper understanding

  • When can you recover VAT on a car purchase

    Reclaiming VAT on company cars isn’t as simple as it sounds. Generally, businesses can’t recover VAT unless the car is used exclusively for business purposes. But there are exceptions—like taxis, driving schools, and commercial vehicles. Here’s

  • VAT Reverse Charge in Construction: What You Need to Know

    Navigating VAT in the construction industry can feel like untangling scaffolding. Enter the VAT reverse charge—special rules that mean sub-contractors no longer charge VAT on services but contractors handle the tax instead. Here’s how it works