If you are a trader in the UK with rising taxable sales then you need to pay uk vat to enjoy all benefits offered by this taxation system http://www.vatcheck.com. Once your taxable sales touch the vat threshold limit of ?70,000 during the past Twelve months then you need to apply for vat registration in order that you too can become part of this tax system that is in effect in the majority of Europe.
If you are a really small trader that mostly sells retail goods then you can remain out of the purview of vat or value added tax so long as your taxable sales do not touch ?70,000 in 12 months. However, if your sales touch that figure or if you sell goods to vat registered traders then you would be better off as a vat registered trader in the UK. Vat has been employed as a way of collecting taxes on goods and services in the majority of of Europe and the UK too follows this system. The vat department in the UK is headed by HM Revenue and Customs or hmrc department.
Once you have crossed over the vat threshold limit for uk VAT then you'll have to apply for vat registration. You can do so before you reach this limit if you think that you have to reclaim vat which has already been paid on services and goods, especially in a different eu country where this system is followed. You should hire the services of an experienced vat agent well conversed in uk and eu vat rules for vat registration purposes and for filing of vat refunds so that there aren't any problems in claiming back vat.
Once you do turn into a vat registered trader in the United Kingdom, which may extend to 30 days after you file an online vat application then you will need to charge vat according to the 14,000 goods and services classifications given by the hmrc vat department. This will likely need to be done through each vat invoice you will be required to issue during each taxable sale. UK has 3 vat rates starting with the regular rate of 17.5%, reduced vat rate of 5%, and the zero vat rate. Certain goods and services are totally vat exempt too.
As soon as you are a vat registered trader so as to pay and collect uk vat based on vat invoices then you will also have to file your vat returns regularly. Again, your vat agent is going to be necessary to calculate vat to get paid or refunded depending on your vat purchases and sales. In case you have imported goods or services in the UK after paying vat in a eu country then you can definitely avoid double taxation by filing a vat reclaim form. You will be awarded vat refund between four to eight months after your claim is successfully processed by hmrc as well as the member country. Overall, vat is an excellent tax system to avoid double taxation as well as plug many loopholes which were present in the traditional sales tax system.
If you are a growing trader in the United Kingdom that sells taxable goods to vat registered traders then you need to maintain the cycle of vat alive by getting to be a vat registered trader. Now you can collect and pay uk vat whilst claiming any vat previously paid on imported goods and services, which in turn will reduce your tax overheads to some large extent.