Most businesses that operate in the United Kingdom have to adhere to the legal requirements that put Value Added Tax or VAT in place. The specific requirements for each business vary depending on several factors. The nature of the trading a business is involved in and the annual revenue that it earns yearly are other factors that have an effect on the tax.
Businesses in the United Kingdom must now meet the threshold of £82,000 in total sales to be eligible to register for Value Added Tax. The new threshold came into effect on April 1, 2015, and was an increase from the earlier one of £81,000. However, the government allows businesses to register for the tax voluntarily even when they have not reached the threshold.
VAT Services
After registering for Value Added Tax, the business has to submit the necessary returns every quarter. Submitting the returns takes place online through the official website. Paper returns are no longer considered acceptable by HMRC, which handles all issues regarding Value Added Tax and all other types of taxes in the United Kingdom.
The rates vary depending on the nature of the goods and services. For example, businesses and individuals in the United Kingdom do not have to pay the tax on exempt supplies. A business that mostly supplies exempt services can continue operating without feeling compelled to register for the Value Added Tax.
Contacting VAT Customer Service
Customer service at HMRC can handle all the questions and general enquiries that you have regarding VAT. For this reason, get in touch with the customer service by phone. To do this, you ought to simply call customer service on 0300 200 3700. If you struggle with speech and hearing impairments, contact the department through the textphone service on 0300 200 3719.
You can get in touch with the customer service even while outside the United Kingdom. When outside the country, the telephone number to call and speak with customer service regarding issues that you have with Value Added Tax is +44 2920 501 261. Contact customer service at the less busy times, which are between 8 am and 11 am every day from Monday to Friday.
VAT Contact Tips
Before proceeding with the telephone call to the department at HMRC offices that handles issues regarding VAT, ensure that your registration number is in place and nearby. Be ready with the postcode as well when calling the department. Call customer service during the opening hours, which are between 8am-6pm from Monday to Friday. The service is closed on weekends.
