Say goodbye to form-filling and hello to smart VAT registration. Securely upload your company info and we’ll do the rest. Get VAT registered in just 7 days.
Move VAT registration from your “to-do” list to “done” with Tide! We’ve made it easier than ever to apply for VAT registration and will guide you through the process.
Upload your info and let us take care of your application
Online VAT registration service. For a flat fee of just £39.99 (including VAT), we’ll take care of the application for you.
Working with our expert accounting partner, Quickfile, we’ll support you every step of the way with any HMRC queries.
You’ll typically receive your VAT registration number in 7 business days. We’ll also send you a VAT certificate to make things official.
For more details, see our Key Facts which forms the part of the Quickfile VAT Registration Terms and Conditions.
Available to new Tide members and directors of limited companies, here’s how to register for VAT online with Tide.
We’ll email you, inviting you to register for VAT. Registration costs £39.99 (including VAT)
Enter your National Insurance Number, expected taxable turnover, and a description of your business
We’ll submit your application to HMRC on your behalf and work with you to quickly resolve any queries
Your application should be processed in 7 working days and you will receive your VAT number
Our VAT registration process is quite simple. We need a few pieces of information about your business including:
Don’t worry, we’ll help you along the way with our helpful hints and explanations. When we submit the information, we’ll arrange it in the way the HRMC expects to help you in your application.
As your business matures, you may decide another scheme is more suitable. You can switch schemes using your online Government Gateway account or by filling out VAT484.
VAT registration is £39.99 (including VAT) and is charged directly from your Tide account. But don’t worry, once you’re registered you can claim back the VAT 😉
You must be VAT registered if your VAT taxable turnover is more than £85,000/year. If you do not expect to reach this threshold, you can still voluntarily register for VAT at any time. Both sole traders and registered companies can register for VAT. Please note that the Tide VAT registration service is only available to registered companies at this time.
As a VAT registered business, you can claim back VAT paid for business expenses. You can also backdate these claims by 4 years on goods and 6 months on services. Moreover, a VAT registration can also help a business appear more established, instilling confidence in potential customers and suppliers.
Most VAT registrations are processed successfully within 7 business days. In some cases, HMRC will want additional information to complete the registration. In these rare scenarios, the turnaround time tends to be 2-3 weeks. Unfortunately, there is no way to determine if a case will fall into this category at the time of application.
In the rare cases where HMRC denies an application a VAT registration or if there are significant barriers to your receiving a VAT number, we will refund your application. However, refunds are made on a discretionary basis and there is no entitlement to refunds. For more information, please refer to our Key Facts Document.
From the effective date of registration, VAT registered companies must:
No, you can not charge VAT until your application has been completed and you have received a VAT certificate.
When your application is accepted, HMRC will issue a VAT registration certificate. This certificate includes:
The default scheme is the standard VAT scheme. With the standard scheme, businesses keep VAT details of their sales and purchases. You can then use the tracked information to complete a quarterly VAT return.
The annual accounting VAT scheme means that you will file a single annual return each year. Each quarter, you’ll make advance payments towards your estimated VAT bill which can help with budgeting. Businesses with an annual turnover greater £1.35 million are not eligible for this scheme.
The flat rate VAT scheme is open to businesses with an annual turnover <£150,000. Under this scheme, you pay a percentage of total turnover as VAT. This can be a simpler option for your business as it needs less detailed record keeping. The percentage paid is determined by your industry.
VAT can be a confusing topic, especially for businesses with complex setups. It may be worth engaging a professional to discuss further. The government also provides a number to make general inquiries about VAT which can be found here.
We also have a more comprehensive guide to VAT in our small business tips section.
Right now this feature is only available to new signups and directors of limited companies. A few days after signing up to Tide, we’ll send you an invite to register for VAT. We hope to make this feature available to all members with limited companies very soon.
Find answers to all our most frequently asked questions and how to contact our Member Support team.