
HM Revenue & Customs have released a new tool designed to help businesses find out what VAT registration would mean for their business.
VAT registration becomes mandatory if:
-your total taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 over the previous 12 months.
-you expect your taxable turnover to go over £90,000 in the next 30 days.
-you're based outside the UK and supply goods and services to the UK.
Taxable turnover refers to the total value of everything you sell except for anything that is exempt from VAT.
It is also possible to register for VAT voluntarily even if your annual taxable turnover is below £90,000.
If the majority of customers for your business are VAT registered then there is no increase in costs for them, and so voluntary VAT registration can be worthwhile so that you can claim VAT back on the purchases you make.
The new HMRC tool can help you to estimate what VAT might be owed or reclaimed by your business if you were to register for VAT. You are free to use the tool to explore multiple ‘what-if’ scenarios so that you can compare various situations and how you might be affected.
To use the tool, please see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-what-registering-for-vat-may-mean-for-your-business

The troubled Shetland SaxaVord Spaceport project has been saved. The £30 million rescue package for the ex-RAF station in Unst was announced the day after a rapidly rolled-out new UK space strategy was presented by the government.

The Apprenticeship Levy has undergone its biggest overhaul since its introduction, with major changes taking effect from 1 August 2026. For Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), the most significant development is the expansion of what levy funds can be used for under the new Growth and Skills Levy. This expansion comes alongside tighter funding rules, making planning more important than ever.

