By City Solution · AAT-licensed accountants

UK VAT registration, done for you

UK businesses must register for VAT when taxable turnover passes £90,000 in any rolling 12 months. Overseas businesses with no UK establishment have no threshold and must register from their first UK taxable sale.

Licensed by the AAT
London practice since 2014
Fixed fee before we start

VAT threshold for UK businesses: £90,000
Threshold for overseas businesses: £0
To tell HMRC once you’re liable: 30 days
HMRC’s processing guideline: 40 working days

Which rules apply to you?

UK VAT registration works differently depending on where your business is established. Start with the route that fits.

Overseas business

No UK establishment

HMRC calls you a non-established taxable person (NETP).

No registration threshold: £0
Register within 30 days of your first UK taxable sale
Register using your overseas business address
Exceptions for marketplace-only, zero-rated and reverse-charge sales

Read the overseas guide

UK business

Established in the UK

Includes most UK-incorporated companies and sole traders.

Threshold: £90,000 in any rolling 12 months
Tell HMRC within 30 days of the end of the month you go over
Or register now if the next 30 days alone will pass £90,000
Voluntary registration is open below the threshold

Read the threshold guide

What we do

We check whether you need to register, submit the application to HMRC as your agent, and deal with HMRC’s questions until your VAT number arrives. Then we can file your returns.

Get in touch Pricing

Tell us about your business
Send the form. We reply by email or phone within one UK working day to confirm whether and when you must register.
Documents
A checklist written for your business type and country, not a generic form.
We apply
We submit to HMRC as your agent and answer every follow-up question.
You’re registered
VAT number, Making Tax Digital set-up, and your first return if you want us to file it.

Guides

Each guide answers one question, cites HMRC, and shows when it was last reviewed.

Do I need to register? Free checkerFour questions, one answer, with your deadline.UK VAT for overseas businesses (NETP)No threshold. Register within 30 days of your first UK sale.What counts as a UK establishmentA registered or virtual office alone does not count.Amazon, eBay and Etsy sellersWhen the marketplace exemption applies, and when it doesn’t.Selling goods into the UKThe £135 rule, import VAT and postponed VAT accounting.SaaS and digital servicesUK VAT from the first consumer sale. B2B reverse charge.Tax representative or agent?Who is liable for your VAT debts, and when HMRC insists.VAT registration threshold (2026)£90,000 of taxable turnover in any rolling 12 months.How to register, step by stepThe HMRC application and a documents checklist.How long registration takesHMRC asks you not to chase for 40 working days.Late registration penaltiesUp to 30% of the VAT due, or 0% if you tell HMRC first.Voluntary registrationReclaim VAT on goods bought up to 4 years before.

Who we are

An accountancy practice, not a lead-gen site

UK VAT Registration is run by City Solution (UK) Ltd, a London bookkeeping, payroll and VAT practice that works as the internal finance team for startups and SMEs. The guides are written and reviewed by Peter Allen, a director with more than 14 years in practice.

Setting up a UK company as well? Our sister site UK Establishment covers company formation for overseas founders.

AAT licence 1001556Peter Allen, licensed and regulated by AAT
Company no. 09145699Registered in England and Wales, 2014
AML supervised by HMRCIdentity checks on every client
£2m PI coverProfessional indemnity, Hiscox

Ask an accountant about your VAT registration

Tell us where your business is based and what you sell into the UK. An accountant will reply by email or phone within one UK working day, with a fixed quote if you need us.

Email: hello@citysolution.co.uk
Office: 86–90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE

Your questions answered

Does my overseas company need a UK VAT number?

Yes, if it makes taxable sales in the UK and has no UK establishment. There is no threshold for overseas businesses, so the first UK sale is enough. Read our guide to NETP registration for the exceptions.

What is the UK VAT threshold?

The VAT registration threshold is £90,000 of taxable turnover in any rolling 12 months. It applies to UK-established businesses only. See the VAT threshold guide for how to calculate it.

Does HMRC charge a fee to register for VAT?

No. HMRC charges nothing to register. You pay an accountant only if you want them to handle the application, deal with HMRC’s questions and file returns. Our fees are published on the pricing page.

What happens if I register for VAT late?

HMRC registers you from the date you should have registered, and you owe VAT on sales from that date. It can also charge a penalty of up to 30% of the VAT due, reduced to as little as 0% if you tell HMRC before it finds out. See late registration penalties./late-vat-registration-penalty/">late registration penalties.

Who runs this site?

City Solution (UK) Ltd, an AAT-licensed accountancy practice in London, company number 09145699. Every guide is written or reviewed by Peter Allen. More on who we are and at citysolution.co.uk.

Not sure where you stand?

Tell us where your business is and what you sell into the UK. An accountant will reply within one UK working day to tell you whether you must register, by when, and what it costs.

Get in touch See fixed fees