VAT or value added tax is a tax that is applied to most of the business transactions, which involves transfer of services and goods. Your company becomes legally subjected to VAT payment, once its business turnover reaches a certain limit. You are to make the VAT payment to HM Revenue & Customs. Generally, a business charges VAT on the basis of its sales, which is referred to as output tax and pays VAT on the basis of its purchases, which is known as input tax. If a business, which is VAT registered receives more output tax from sales than the payment it makes on input tax, it has to pay the difference to HM Revenue and Customs. On the other hand if the business pays more input tax, compared to the VAT charged for sales, then the Revenue refunds the difference to the business.

VAT registration becomes compulsory for a business, when the total supply of taxable goods and services of the business amounts to more than £64,000 in the last 12 month period or in case the business anticipates a turnover of £64,000 in the next 30 days. The figures are set by the government and have the possibility to be changed in future. It is important to know that there are certain goods and services, which are exempted from VAT, such as loans, insurance some education and trainings. Businesses supplying only the exempted goods and services need not register or make VAT returns or payments.