When not to charge VAT

You cannot charge VAT on exempt goods or services. If you buy or sell an exempt item you should still record the transaction in your general business accounts. Some examples of VAT-exempt goods and services are: financial services, investments and insurance garages, parking spaces and houseboat moorings property, land and buildings education and training (excluding private schools) healthcare and medical treatment funeral plans, burial or cremation services charity events antiques gambling or lottery tickets sports activities Read the full list of VAT exempt goods . Goods and services that are ‘out of scope’ Some goods and services are outside the VAT tax system (‘out of scope’) so you cannot charge or reclaim the VAT on them. For example: goods or services you buy and use outside of the UK statutory fees, like the London congestion charge goods you sell as part of a hobby, like stamps from a collection donations to a charity, if given without getting anything in return Charging VAT to charities VAT-registered businesses can sell certain goods and services to charities at the zero or reduced rate of VAT. Find out what qualifies for the reduced rate . If you’re a VAT-registered business, it’s your responsibility to check the charity is eligible, and to apply the correct rate. Community amateur sports clubs do not qualify for VAT reliefs for charities. Check the charity is eligible Ask the charity to provide you with evidence that they’re a charity. This can be either: their Charity Commission registration number a letter of recognition from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if they’re not registered with the Charity Commission (for example if they’re a charity in Scotland or Northern Ireland) Get a written declaration You also need to ask the charity to give you a written declaration or certificate confirming it meets the conditions for the particular VAT relief. Charities must follow a particular format for the declaration or certificate . The declaration must be separate from the order form or invoice. You must keep any declarations or certificates for at least 4 years.

VAT on discounts and gifts

There are different rules for charging VAT on discounts, gifts and free services. Charging VAT on discounts For basic discounts (for example, a 20% off discount), charge VAT on the discounted price. Multi-buy offers Multi-buy offers are where the customer gets a discount for buying more items, for example 3 items for £20. For multi-buy offers where all the items have the same VAT rate (usually standard rate), charge VAT on the combined price. If the items in the offer have different rates of VAT, you need to use a method called ‘apportionment’. Read section 8 of the guidance to VAT rules and procedures to find out how ‘apportionment’ works . Link-save offers Link-save offers are where the customer gets a discounted (or free) second item with their purchase, for example ‘buy one, get one free’. Use ‘apportionment’ to work out the VAT, unless the free or discounted item: has a resale value of less than £1 has a sale value of less than £5 costs you less than 20% of the total of the other items in the offer is not sold at a separate price from the main product If any of the above apply, charge VAT on the combined value of items. Charging VAT on coupons or vouchers Do not charge VAT on either of the following: a money-off coupon or voucher you give away free with another item at the time of purchase ‘face value’ vouchers that can be used for more than one type of good or service (if sold at or below their monetary value) Charge VAT when a customer uses a ‘face value’ voucher to buy something from you. If you sold the voucher at a discount, charge VAT at the discounted value. VAT on gifts You do not owe VAT if either of the following apply: you’re giving away your own goods and services the total value of gifts given to the same person in a 12-month period is less than £50 VAT on free goods and services You usually do not owe VAT on goods and services you give away for free. Item or service Condition to meet to be exempt from paying VAT Free samples Used for marketing purposes and provided in a quantity that lets potential customers test the product Free loans of business assets The cost of hiring the asset is included in something else you sell to the customer Free services You do not get any payment or goods or services in return

Reclaim VAT on business expenses

You can reclaim VAT on items you buy for use in your business if you’re VAT registered. Do this in your VAT return . There are different rules if your organisation is not registered for VAT (for example, a local authority, academy, public body or eligible charity). Read guidance on reclaiming VAT as an organisation not registered for VAT (VAT126) . If any items are also for personal use, you can only claim the business proportion of the VAT . Examples Half of your mobile phone calls are personal. You can reclaim 50% of the VAT on the purchase price and the service plan. You work from home and your office takes up 20% of the floor space in your house. You can reclaim 20% of the VAT on your utility bills. You must keep records to support your claim and show how you arrived at the business proportion for a purchase. You must also have valid VAT invoices. If you reclaim VAT on goods or services which you’ve not paid for, you must repay HMRC . This is called ‘clawback’. Read the guidance on clawback to find out when and how to repay VAT you previously reclaimed . If you sell both taxable and exempt goods If you sell goods or services that are a mixture of taxable and exempt from VAT , your business is considered ‘partly exempt’. Find out about partial exemption and how to calculate what you can reclaim . Purchases before registration You can reclaim VAT paid on goods or services bought before you registered for VAT if you bought them within: 4 years for goods you still have or goods that were used to make other goods you still have 6 months for services You can only reclaim VAT on purchases for the business now registered for VAT . They must relate to your ‘business purpose’. This means they must relate to VAT taxable goods or services that you supply. If you use the VAT Flat Rate Scheme You cannot reclaim the VAT on your purchases - except for certain capital assets over £2,000. Read section 15 of the guidance on the Flat Rate Scheme for small businesses to find out when you can reclaim VAT . Vehicles You might be able to reclaim all the VAT on a new car or commercial vehicle if you use it only for business. You must be able to show that it is not used on a personal basis, for example it’s specified in your employee’s contract. ‘Personal use’ includes travelling between home and work, unless it’s a temporary place of work. You might also be able to claim all the VAT on a new car if it’s mainly used: as a taxi for driving instruction for self-drive hire If you buy a used car for business use, the sales invoice must show the VAT . If you hire a car to replace a company car that’s off the road, you can usually claim 50% of the VAT on the hire charge. If you hire a car for business use only, you can reclaim all the VAT if you hire it for no more than 10 days. Fuel costs There are different ways of reclaiming VAT on fuel, if you do not pay a fixed rate under the Flat Rate Scheme . You can reclaim all the VAT on fuel if your vehicle is used only for business. If you use the vehicle for both business and personal purposes, you can either: reclaim all the VAT and pay the right fuel scale charge for your vehicle only reclaim the VAT on fuel you use for business trips - you’ll have to keep detailed mileage records You might choose not to reclaim any VAT , for example if your business mileage is so low that the fuel scale charge would be higher than the VAT you can reclaim. If you choose not to reclaim VAT on fuel for one vehicle you cannot reclaim VAT on any fuel for vehicles used by your business. Additional vehicle costs You can usually reclaim the VAT for: all business-related running and maintenance costs, like repairs or off-street parking any accessories you’ve fitted for business use You can do this even if you cannot reclaim VAT on the vehicle itself. Travel expenses You can reclaim VAT on employee travel expenses for business trips. Travel expenses can include transport, meals and accommodation that you pay for. Find out who counts as an employee . You can reclaim VAT on other kinds of expenses (not just those related to travel) for self-employed people who are treated as employees. You cannot reclaim VAT if you pay your employees a flat rate for expenses. Business assets of £50,000 and more There are special rules for reclaiming VAT in the Capital Goods Scheme , which means you must spread the initial VAT claimed over a number of years. What you cannot reclaim You cannot reclaim VAT for: anything that’s only for personal use goods and services your business uses to make VAT -exempt supplies the cost of entertaining or providing hospitality to people you do business with (for example theatre or sports tickets) goods sold to you under one of the VAT second-hand margin schemes business assets that are transferred to you as a ‘ going concern’

HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) may check your records to make sure you’re paying the right amount of tax. Records you must keep You must keep a record of the following: everything you buy and sell (including zero-rated, reduced and VAT exempt items) copies of all invoices you issue all invoices you receive (original or electronic copies) self-billing agreements (where the customer prepares the invoice) the name, address and VAT number of any self-billing suppliers debit or credit notes any goods you give away or take from stock for your private use Keep general business records such as bank statements, cash books, cheque stubs, paying-in slips and till rolls. Find out what records you must keep when you export goods . Records you must keep digitally You must keep some VAT records digitally (also known as an ‘electronic account’) - unless you’re exempt from following ‘Making Tax Digital for VAT ’ rules. Keep digital records of the following: the VAT on goods and services you supply (supplies made) the VAT on goods and services you receive (supplies received) the ‘time of supply’ and ‘value of supply’ (value excluding VAT ) for everything you buy and sell any adjustments you make to a return reverse charge transactions - where you record the VAT on both the sale price and the purchase price of goods and services you buy any VAT accounting schemes you use your total daily gross takings if you use a retail scheme items you can reclaim VAT on if you use the Flat Rate Scheme your total sales, and the VAT on those sales, if you trade in gold and use the Gold Accounting Scheme Keep digital copies of documents that cover multiple transactions made on behalf of your business by: volunteers for charity fundraising a third party business employees for expenses in petty cash How to keep digital records Use a compatible software package or other software (like spreadsheets) that connect to HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) systems. If you have recently registered for VAT , you should wait for HMRC to confirm your registration before downloading compatible software. Keep paper version of the records while you wait. Linking your records digitally If you use more than one software package or product to keep records and submit returns, you need to link them. This must be a digital link. You cannot manually transfer this data, or ‘copy and paste’, between software. Some ways you can link your software include: using formulas to link cells in spreadsheets emailing records putting records on a portable device to give to your agent importing and exporting XML and CSV files downloading and uploading files When you’re exempt from keeping digital records You must follow the rules for ‘Making Tax Digital for VAT ’ by keeping some records digitally, unless: your business uses the VAT GIANT service, for example if you’re a government department or an NHS Trust you’re eligible for an exemption How long you must keep records Begin keeping records when you register for VAT . You must keep VAT records for at least 6 years (or 10 years if you are using the VAT One Stop Shop ( OSS ) scheme or used the VAT Mini One Stop Shop ( MOSS ) scheme ). VAT invoices Only VAT -registered businesses can issue VAT invoices. If you’re VAT -registered, you must: issue valid invoices keep copies of all the sales invoices you issue even if you cancel them or produce one by mistake keep all purchase invoices for items you buy Find out what to include in a valid VAT invoice . You cannot reclaim VAT using an invalid invoice, a pro-forma invoice, a statement or a delivery note. If a supplier issues you an incorrect invoice If a supplier issues you an invoice where the amount to pay is wrong, you need to ask the supplier to correct it and issue a new invoice. If you pay less than the amount due on an invoice, you can only reclaim the VAT on the amount paid - not what is on the invoice. You cannot claim more VAT than is shown on a valid VAT invoice. VAT account You must keep a record of the VAT you charge on sales and the VAT you pay on your purchases. This is called a ‘ VAT account’. You use the figures in your VAT account to complete your VAT return. There are not any rules on what a VAT account should look like, but it must show: your total VAT sales your total VAT purchases the VAT you owe HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) the VAT you can reclaim from HMRC if your business uses the VAT Flat Rate Scheme , the flat rate percentage and turnover it applies to If you are a Northern Ireland business registered for VAT , you must also show the VAT on any EU purchases or sales. If you’ve made an error on your VAT return , the VAT account must show when you discovered the error and how you corrected it. Returns and exchanges When you return goods to a supplier or a customer returns goods to you, settle the balance of payment by issuing either a: replacement invoice credit or debit note Record these in your accounts and keep any original notes. If you exchange the goods for goods of the same value you do not need to issue a new VAT invoice. Your credit or debit note must include the: same information as the VAT invoice reason why it was issued total amount credited, excluding VAT number and date of the original VAT invoice Bad debts If a customer does not pay what they owe for goods or services, you can write off the invoice as a ‘bad debt’. You may be able to claim relief from VAT for bad debts. Do this in your VAT Return . If you write off an invoice as a bad debt, you must keep a separate ‘ VAT bad debt account’. The debt must be older than 6 months when you make your claim. You must claim a refund from HMRC within 4 years and 6 months of the date the payment was due or the date of supply (whichever was later). For each bad debt you must show: total amount of VAT involved amount written off and any payments you’ve received the VAT you’re claiming on the debt the VAT period(s) you paid the VAT and are claiming the relief invoice details like the date and the customer’s name You must keep this information for 4 years after the claim is made, or 10 years if you used the VAT MOSS . Time of supply or tax point You need to know a transaction’s time of supply (or ‘tax point’). This is the date the transaction takes place for tax purposes. The tax point tells you which VAT period the transaction belongs to, and which return to put it on. The tax point can vary, but it’s usually the following: Situation Tax point No invoice needed Date of supply VAT invoice issued Date of invoice VAT invoice issued 15 days or more after the date of supply Date the supply took place Payment or invoice issued in advance of supply Date of payment or invoice (whichever is earlier) The date of supply is: for goods - the date they’re sent, collected or made available (for example, when they’re installed in the customer’s house) for services - the date the work is finished Exceptions to the tax point rule If you use the VAT Cash Accounting Scheme , the tax point is always the date the payment is received. Read the guidance on how to work out the tax point in other situations . For example, there are different tax point rules for: certain trades - like barristers, building and construction where the supply is not a ‘sale’ – for example business items taken for personal use Sometimes, one sale can give rise to 2 or more tax points - for example, where the customer pays a deposit in advance, and then a final payment.

Charge, reclaim and record VAT

Charging VAT

All VAT-registered businesses should now be signed up for Making Tax Digital for VAT. You no longer need to sign up yourself.

As a VAT-registered business, you must charge VAT on the goods and services you sell unless they are exempt.

You must register for VAT to start charging VAT.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

How to charge VAT

When you sell goods or services, you must do the following:

work out the VAT-inclusive price using the correct VAT rate
show the VAT information on your invoice - invoices must include your VAT number and display the VAT separately
show the transaction in your VAT account - a summary of your VAT
record the amount on your VAT return

VAT rates

There are 3 rates of VAT (standard, reduced and zero-rated). VAT rates can change. You must apply any changes to the rates immediately, from the date they change.

Check the current VAT rates.

When to charge standard rate

You usually charge standard rate of VAT (currently 20%) on most goods and services. Use standard rate unless the goods or services you sell are classed as reduced or zero-rated.

When to charge reduced rate

You charge reduced rate (currently 5%) instead of standard rate on certain goods or services, or if the circumstances of the sale meets certain rules. For example, reduced rate applies to:

child car seats
domestic fuel or power
mobility aids if they’re for someone over 60 and installed in their home

Find a list of reduced rate goods or services.

When to charge zero rate

You charge zero rate on goods and services if you export them, depending on where in the UK you are supplying them from and where they’re going to.

Zero rate means you must still account for and charge VAT (for example, you must include it on your invoices) but the rate you use is 0%.

Charge zero rate on goods you export from:

Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) to somewhere outside the UK
Northern Ireland to somewhere outside the UK and EU
goods you supply from Northern Ireland to a VAT registered EU business - you can check if the VAT number is valid

How to calculate prices with and without VAT

You need to work out the total price including VAT (the ‘VAT-inclusive price’) when you sell goods or services.

You might also need to work out how much VAT you’ve paid on goods you bought, for example if reclaiming VAT. You do this by working out what the price of the goods would be without VAT (the VAT-exclusive price).

VAT-inclusive prices

To work out a price that includes the standard rate of VAT (currently 20%), multiply the price excluding VAT by 1.2.

Example

You’re selling a chair for £60 and need to add 20% VAT to get the price including VAT.

60 x 1.2 = 72

The price including VAT is £72.

To work out a price that includes the reduced rate of VAT (currently 5%), multiply the price excluding VAT by 1.05.

Example

You’re selling a child’s car seat for £200 and need to add 5% VAT to get the price including VAT.

200 x 1.05 = 210

The price including VAT is £210.

VAT-exclusive prices

To work out a price that excludes the standard rate of VAT (currently 20%) divide the price including VAT by 1.2.

Example

You bought a table and the total price including 20% VAT was £180.

180 ÷ 1.20 = 150

The price excluding VAT is £150. The amount you can claim back is the difference between the two numbers - £30.

To work out a price that excludes the reduced rate of VAT (5%) divide the price including VAT by 1.05.

Example

You bought a stairlift and the total price including 5% VAT was £483.

483 ÷ 1.05 = 460

The price excluding VAT is £460. The amount you can claim back is the difference between the two numbers - £23.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Step 1 Check if you need to follow this process
Follow these steps if you're moving goods permanently from:
- England, Wales or Scotland (Great Britain) to a country outside the UK
- Northern Ireland to a country outside the UK and the EU
What you need to do is different if you are:
1. Learn about exporting, including making export plans, on Business.gov.uk
Step 2 Check the rules for exporting your goods
1. Check duties, rules and restrictions for your goods in the destination country
and Apply for any licences you need to export your goods
There are special rules and you may need to get licences or certificates if you are exporting any of the following:
Step 3 Get your business ready to export
You need an EORI number that starts with GB to export goods from England, Wales or Scotland.

If you move goods to or from Northern Ireland you may need one that starts with XI.
1. Get an EORI number
1. Check if you need to register for VAT
There are processes that can make clearing customs quicker and easier to manage if you export goods regularly.
and Check whoever's receiving the goods can import them
The business or person receiving the goods may need:
- to make an import declaration in their country
- licences or certificates to receive goods from the UK
Check whoever you are sending the goods to is able to import them into their country.
Step 4 Decide who will make export declarations and transport the goods
You can hire someone to deal with customs and transport the goods for you, or you can do it yourself.
Step 5 Classify your goods
You must find the right commodity code to classify the goods you're exporting.

Your customs agent or transporter might be able to help you with this.
1. Find the right commodity code for your goods
Step 6 Prepare the invoice and other documentation for your goods
The completed invoice and any licences or certificates must travel with the goods.

When filling in the value of your goods on the invoice, use the price you’re selling them for. If you're not selling the goods, use the market value of the goods. List any freight or export insurance you included in the price separately.

You may need proof of origin if exporting to a country where your goods have a reduced or zero rate of duty.
1. Get proof of origin for your goods
You might be able to zero rate the goods for VAT. This means you can charge your customers VAT at 0%.
1. Check if you can zero rate the goods for VAT
Step 7 Get your goods through customs
If you've appointed someone to deal with UK customs for you, they'll make the declaration and get your goods through the UK border.
1. Make an export declaration and get your goods cleared by UK customs
You may need other documentation to get your goods into the destination country. Ask the person or business buying your goods what information you need to provide.
1. Check how to bring goods back into the UK if they were rejected for import at another country’s border
Step 8 Keep invoices and records
You must keep commercial invoices and any customs paperwork.

If you're VAT registered, record the goods in your VAT accounts even if they are zero-rated.
1. Find out how to record the goods in your VAT accounts
If you exported controlled goods, for example firearms, keep the paperwork that shows who owns the goods.

Charge, reclaim and record VAT

Charging VAT

How to charge VAT

VAT rates

When to charge standard rate

When to charge reduced rate

When to charge zero rate

How to calculate prices with and without VAT

VAT-inclusive prices

VAT-exclusive prices

Step 1 Check if you need to follow this process

Step 2 Check the rules for exporting your goods

and Apply for any licences you need to export your goods

Step 3 Get your business ready to export

and Check whoever's receiving the goods can import them

Step 4 Decide who will make export declarations and transport the goods

Step 5 Classify your goods

Step 6 Prepare the invoice and other documentation for your goods

Step 7 Get your goods through customs

Step 8 Keep invoices and records

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Charge, reclaim and record VAT

Charging VAT

How to charge VAT

VAT rates

When to charge standard rate

When to charge reduced rate

When to charge zero rate

How to calculate prices with and without VAT

VAT-inclusive prices

VAT-exclusive prices

Part of Export goods from the UK: step by step

Step 1: Check if you need to follow this process

Step 2: Check the rules for exporting your goods

and Apply for any licences you need to export your goods

Step 3: Get your business ready to export

and Check whoever's receiving the goods can import them

Step 4: Decide who will make export declarations and transport the goods

Step 5: Classify your goods

Step 6: Prepare the invoice and other documentation for your goods

Step 7: Get your goods through customs

Step 8: Keep invoices and records

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Step 1 Check if you need to follow this process

Step 2 Check the rules for exporting your goods

Step 3 Get your business ready to export

Step 4 Decide who will make export declarations and transport the goods

Step 5 Classify your goods

Step 6 Prepare the invoice and other documentation for your goods

Step 7 Get your goods through customs

Step 8 Keep invoices and records