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Do I Need to Register for VAT?
The UK VAT threshold isn't about your tax year — it's a rolling 12-month figure that can catch you out mid-year. Drop in your turnover and this checker tells you straight away whether you've crossed the line, are getting close, or have room to spare.
VAT registration threshold (from April 2024 — check current figure on gov.uk): the figures below are editable. If HMRC has changed the thresholds since this tool was written, type the current numbers in and the verdict updates instantly.
You're under the VAT registration threshold.
You must register if either of these two triggers is met:
- Your rolling 12-month turnover goes over the registration threshold.
- You expect to go over the threshold in the next 30 days alone (e.g. one large contract).
Who this is for
Any UK sole trader, partnership or limited company trying to work out whether they've hit the point where VAT registration becomes compulsory — tradespeople, freelancers, shops, and small service businesses. It's a first-glance check against the current threshold, not a substitute for your accountant or the official guidance on gov.uk. Working in construction? Once you're registered, check whether the domestic reverse charge applies before you add VAT to an invoice.
What is the VAT registration threshold?
The VAT registration threshold is the level of VAT-taxable turnover at which registering for VAT stops being optional and becomes a legal requirement. From April 2024 the registration threshold is £90,000 and the deregistration threshold is £88,000, but these figures can change in any Budget. Because they change, this tool lets you edit both — always confirm the current numbers on gov.uk before you rely on the result.
Is the VAT threshold based on the tax year or a rolling 12 months?
A rolling 12 months — not the tax year and not your accounting year. At the end of every month you add up your VAT-taxable turnover for the previous 12 months. If that rolling total ever exceeds the threshold, you must register, even if it happens in the middle of your financial year. There's also a separate forward-look test: if you expect to exceed the threshold in the next 30 days alone, you must register immediately. This is the trigger most people miss, because they only ever look at their year-end figure.
What happens if I go over the VAT threshold?
Once you cross the threshold on the rolling 12-month test, you normally have 30 days from the end of the month in which you went over to register with HMRC, and your registration takes effect from the first day of the second month after you exceeded it. Under the forward-look test you must register by the end of that 30-day period, effective from the date you realised. From your effective date you have to charge VAT on your sales and can reclaim VAT on eligible purchases. Registering late can mean penalties and having to pay the VAT you should have charged out of your own pocket — so it pays to watch the rolling figure and get advice early.
Does this tool store my details?
No. Everything you type stays in your browser — the calculation runs entirely on your device. Nothing is uploaded, saved or sent anywhere, and no figures are recorded. Thresholds change over time, so always confirm the current registration and deregistration figures on gov.uk before acting on the result.
Please note: this tool gives a guide or estimate only. It may not be 100% accurate and is not professional advice — always check the figures before you rely on them. Rates, thresholds, allowances and rules can change without notice and may be out of date by the time you use this tool. Verify against HMRC / GOV.UK or your accountant before acting. Everything you type stays in your browser — nothing is uploaded, saved or sent anywhere.
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