When do I need to register for VAT
Most business' are legally obliged to register for VAT within 30 days when they know their total sales for a rolling 12 month period exceeds £85k.
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Sounds complicated - watch my video explaining the rolling 12 month rule and how to plot your sales and project when you are likely to go over the threshold.
HMRC states
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You must register for VAT if your VAT taxable turnover goes over £85,000 (the ‘threshold’), or you know that it will. Your VAT taxable turnover is the total of everything sold that is not VAT exempt.
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You can also register voluntarily.
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You must register for VAT if:
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you expect your VAT taxable turnover to be more than £85,000 in the next 30-day period
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your business had a VAT taxable turnover of more than £85,000 over the last 12 months
You might also need to register in some other cases, depending on the kinds of goods or services you sell and where you sell them.
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You must register if you realise that your total VAT taxable turnover is going to be more than £85,000 in the next 30-day period.
You have to register by the end of that 30-day period. Your effective date of registration is the date you realised, not the date your turnover went over the threshold.
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Example
On 1 May, you realise that your VAT taxable turnover in the next 30-day period will take you over the threshold. You must register by 30 May. Your effective date of registration is 1 May.
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You must register if, by the end of any month, your total VAT taxable turnover for the last 12 months was over £85,000.
You have to register within 30 days of the end of the month when you went over the threshold. Your effective date of registration is the first day of the second month after you go over the threshold.
Example
Between 10 July 2017 and 9 July 2018 your VAT taxable turnover was £100,000. That’s the first time it has gone over the VAT threshold. You must register by 30 August 2018. Your effective date of registration is 1 September 2018.
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