VAT Registration for Tradespeople — When and How to Register

VAT is one of those topics that makes most tradespeople's eyes glaze over. But if your business is growing, it's something you need to understand — because getting it wrong can result in penalties, and getting it right can actually work in your favour.

This guide explains when you need to register for VAT, how the process works, what schemes are available, and how it affects the way you price and present your quotes.

Do Tradespeople Need to Register for VAT?

You must register for VAT if your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in any rolling 12-month period. This is the current threshold for 2025/26 and applies whether you're a sole trader or a limited company.

It's important to note that the threshold is based on turnover (total sales), not profit. So if you're billing £90,000 per year but only taking home £45,000 after costs, you still need to register.

You can also register voluntarily if you're below the threshold. There are some legitimate reasons to do this, which we'll cover below.

When Exactly Do You Need to Register?

There are two triggers for compulsory VAT registration:

• Historic test: At the end of any month, if your total taxable turnover for the previous 12 months has exceeded £90,000, you must register within 30 days.
• Future test: If at any point you expect your taxable turnover to exceed £90,000 in the next 30 days alone, you must register immediately.

The second trigger catches people out less often, but it can happen if you land a single large contract. For example, if you win a £95,000 commercial fit-out project, you'd need to register for VAT before starting the work.

HMRC can back-date your registration if they discover you should have registered earlier, and they'll want the VAT you should have charged — which will come out of your pocket if you can't recover it from customers. This is why keeping a close eye on your turnover is so important.

How to Register

Registering for VAT is done through HMRC's online portal. You'll need:

• Your National Insurance number (sole trader) or company registration number (limited company)
• Your business bank account details
• Details of your expected turnover for the next 12 months
• Your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)

The process typically takes a few days. Once registered, you'll receive a VAT registration certificate with your VAT number, which you must display on all invoices. Getting your invoicing right is particularly important once you're VAT registered, as there are legal requirements about what VAT invoices must include.

How VAT Works in Practice

Once registered, you charge VAT at 20% on top of your prices. So if your day rate is £250, your invoice to the customer would show £250 plus £50 VAT, totalling £300.

In return, you can reclaim the VAT you pay on business purchases — materials, tools, van fuel, accountancy fees, and so on. Every quarter (or monthly, if you prefer), you submit a VAT return showing the VAT you've charged versus the VAT you've paid. If you've charged more than you've paid, you send the difference to HMRC. If you've paid more, they refund you.

For most tradespeople, you'll be paying HMRC each quarter because your sales (with VAT) will exceed your VAT-eligible purchases. The key is to set this money aside as you earn it — don't spend the VAT portion of your income.

The Flat Rate Scheme

The VAT Flat Rate Scheme (FRS) is designed to simplify VAT for small businesses. Instead of tracking the VAT on every individual purchase, you pay a fixed percentage of your gross turnover to HMRC and keep the difference.

The flat rate percentage depends on your trade. For general building and construction, the current flat rate is typically around 9.5%. Here's how it works in practice:

• You charge your customer £1,200 (£1,000 + £200 VAT)
• You pay HMRC 9.5% of £1,200 = £114
• You keep the £86 difference

The FRS can be beneficial if your VAT-eligible expenses are relatively low (i.e., you're mainly selling labour, not buying lots of materials). However, if you regularly purchase significant amounts of materials, the standard scheme might save you more because you'd reclaim all the VAT on those purchases.

There's also a first-year discount of 1% on the flat rate for newly VAT-registered businesses, which makes the FRS particularly attractive in your first year.

Pros of VAT Registration

• Reclaim VAT on purchases: On the standard scheme, you get back the 20% VAT on materials, tools, fuel, and other business expenses. If you're buying a lot of materials, this can be significant.
• Professional credibility: Some commercial clients and main contractors only work with VAT-registered businesses. Being registered can open doors to larger, more lucrative contracts.
• No threshold anxiety: Once you're registered, you don't need to worry about tracking whether you're approaching the £90,000 mark. You can focus on growing your business without that ceiling.
• Voluntary registration advantage: If you mainly work for VAT-registered businesses (like commercial contractors), they can reclaim the VAT you charge, so it doesn't cost them anything extra — but you benefit from reclaiming VAT on your own expenses.

Cons of VAT Registration

• Higher prices for domestic customers: If most of your work is for homeowners, adding 20% VAT makes you more expensive compared to non-registered competitors. Domestic customers can't reclaim VAT, so it's a real cost to them.
• More admin: You need to submit quarterly VAT returns, maintain proper records, and ensure your invoices meet HMRC's requirements. This adds time and potentially accountancy costs.
• Cash flow impact: You collect VAT from customers but don't pay it to HMRC until your quarterly return is due. This money isn't yours — if you spend it, you'll have a problem when the bill arrives.
• Making Tax Digital: VAT-registered businesses must use MTD-compatible software to keep digital records and submit returns. This means you'll need accounting software like Xero, QuickBooks, or FreeAgent.

How VAT Affects Your Quotes

Once you're VAT registered, you need to show VAT clearly on your quotes and invoices. There are two approaches:

• Show prices plus VAT: Quote £5,000 + VAT (£6,000 inc. VAT). This is more common for commercial work.
• Show VAT-inclusive prices: Quote £6,000 (inc. VAT). This is often clearer for domestic customers who just want to know the total.

Either way, the legal requirement is that your invoice must show the VAT amount separately. Being upfront about VAT in your quotes avoids nasty surprises for customers and builds trust. Pricing your work correctly is already crucial — VAT just adds another layer to get right.

Approaching the Threshold — What to Do

If your turnover is creeping towards £90,000, you have a few options:

• Register voluntarily before you hit it: This gives you time to adjust your pricing and processes without the pressure of a deadline.
• Adjust your pricing: Factor VAT into your rates so that your effective earnings don't drop when you register. If you're earning £250/day, consider whether £300/day (inc. VAT) is still competitive.
• Talk to your accountant: They can model the financial impact and help you decide whether the flat rate scheme or standard scheme works better for your business.

What you should not do is artificially suppress your turnover to stay below the threshold — for example, by turning down work or splitting your business into multiple entities. HMRC is wise to these tactics, and the penalties for evasion are severe.

The Bottom Line

VAT registration is a normal part of running a growing trade business. It adds some admin and complexity, but it also opens up commercial opportunities and lets you reclaim VAT on your expenses. The key is to plan ahead, understand which scheme works best for you, and make sure your pricing reflects the reality of being VAT registered.

Don't leave it until you've already passed the threshold. If you're earning £70,000+ per year and growing, start talking to your accountant now about when and how to register.