Businesses and charging VAT

You can only charge VAT if your business is registered for VAT. 

VAT is charged on things like: 

  • business sales, for example when you sell goods and services 
  • hiring or loaning goods to someone 
  • selling business assets 
  • commission 
  • items sold to staff. for example canteen meals 
  • business goods used for personal reasons 
  • non-sales like bartering, part-exchange (external link) and gifts 

These are known as taxable supplies. There are different rules for charities (external link)

Responsibilities 

VAT-registered businesses: 

  • must charge VAT on their goods or services 
  • may reclaim any VAT the have paid on business-related goods or services 

If you are a VAT-registered business you must report to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) the amount of VAT you have charged and the amount of VAT you have paid. This is done through your VAT Return (external link) which is usually due every three months. 

You may want to appoint an agent (external link) to deal with HMRC on your behalf.  

You must account for VAT on the full value of what you sell, even if you: 

  • receive goods or services instead of money (for example if you take something in part-exchange) 
  • haven not charged any VAT to the customer - whatever price you charge is treated as including VAT 

If you have charged more VAT than you have paid, you have to pay the difference to HMRC. If you have paid more VAT than you have charged, you can reclaim the difference from HMRC.