Latest VAT news

VAT is moving online

From 1 April 2012 virtually all VAT registered businesses with an annual turnover under £100,000 will have to file their VAT returns online and pay any VAT due electronically or face penalties. HMRC will write to all these businesses in February 2012 to explain the new legal requirements and the help and support available to taxpayers.


Businesses are being urged by HMRC to register online early in order to avoid last minute panics. To sign up to VAT Online services, go to www.online.hmrc.gov.uk. You will need to input some facts from your last VAT return and the VAT4 (your Certificate of VAT Registration). When you have signed up, you can then file your VAT return online straightaway without having to wait for an Activation PIN to arrive in the post. If you’ve misplaced your VAT4, you can ask HMRC to send you your ‘effective date’ using the online form, go to www.hmrc.gov.uk/online-services-questions.

There are beginners guides at www.hmrc.gov.uk/vatmoving in the ‘help and support’ section and an online demonstrator at www.hmrc.gov.uk/demo.

The VAT Online helpdesk can also offer lots of support from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (except Bank Holidays). Tel: 0845 010 8500