Appoint a fiscal representative in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)and make sure to be 100% VAT compliant

Basic information
EU membership	1973
ISO code	UK
VAT introduced in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)	1973
VAT name in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)	Value-added tax (VAT)
VAT ID format in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)	GB999 9999 99 / GB999 9999 99 999 / GBGD999 / GBHA999
Territories with special status in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)	Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Channel Islands
VAT rates in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)
Standard VAT rate	20 %
Reduced VAT rate (1)	5 %
Reduced VAT rate (2)	n/a
Super reduced VAT rate	n/a
VAT parking rate	n/a
Zero VAT rate	yes

Reporting frequency in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)

VAT returns	monthly, quarterly , annually
Reporting currency	GBP
VAT-related penalties in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)
Failure to file a VAT return	Penalty of 2 to 10% of the amount of VAT due per reporting period.
Late payment of VAT	Penalty of 2 to 10% of the amount of VAT due per reporting period.
Failure to report ESL/DEB	Penalty of 5, 10 or 15 GBP per day overdue.
Useful links on VAT in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)
Tax Administration in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)	Tax authorities
Ministry of Finance in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)	Ministry of Finance
Check a VAT number in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)	Check a VAT number

Need VAT assistance in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)? Contact us now.

Appointing a tax representative or agent is sometimes an obligation, always a convenience.

A foreign company carrying out transactions in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) subject to British VAT, may be required to appoint a tax representative. Established in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland), the fiscal representative will fulfill the company’s VAT obligations to the British tax authorities on its behalf: filing VAT returns, paying VAT, claiming VAT refunds and carrying out tax audits.

Even when the appointment of a tax representative is not mandatory, a company may entrust the management of its VAT obligations to a tax agent. The difference between an agent and a tax representative essentially concerns the operator’s degree of responsibility. At EASYTAX, we will in any case use the term “tax representation”.

Why entrust your VAT obligations in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) to a tax representative?

To secure your operations, lighten your company’s administrative burden, and control tax risks in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland).
Intra-Community and British VAT regulations are complex and subject to frequent changes. Declaratory obligations are recurrent and vary in frequency. Penalties for default or delay, as well as errors in flow assessment, can quickly prove financially onerous.

Don’t take risks, don’t pull your hair out: leave the management of your VAT obligations to specialists.

For VAT compliance in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland), choose EASYTAX

Discover a simple, reliable and efficient tax representation service. EASYTAX handles all your VAT obligations, Intrastat, ESL, and your VAT recovery claims in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland), in all European Union countries and certain non-EU countries. You have access to a dedicated consultant, who monitors your file and answers any questions you may have.

Need a tax representative in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)? Contact us now.

The British economy is the 8th largest in the world and is essentially based on the services industry, which represents three-quarters of the GDP, due in particular to the financial services industry.

The UK VAT regulations are detailed in the Value Added Tax Act 1994
The United Kingdom joined the European Union in 1973, but has not joined the single currency or the Schengen area.

Following the UK referendum on 26th June 2016, the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) officially left the European Union on 1st January 2021, following lengthy negotiations.
Three of the nations making up Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) are considered to be non-EU countries for VAT purposes.
On the other hand, the negotiated withdrawal agreement provides for a protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and grants a special status to Northern Ireland when it comes to VAT (see our Northern Ireland country sheet).

The VAT rates currently in force in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) are as follows:

• Standard VAT rate: 20 %
• Reduced VAT rate (1): 5 %
• Reduced VAT rate (2): n/a
• Super reduced VAT rate: n/a
• VAT parking rate: n/a
• Zero VAT rate yes

Need a tax representative in the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)? Contact us now.