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Re: To be or not to be VAT Registered

Posted: 08 Oct 2012, 20:34
by meldean
Sound advice. thank you all for your honest opinions. Will defo not be going down that route.

Re: To be or not to be VAT Registered

Posted: 08 Oct 2012, 21:27
by WorthDoingRight
If I understand VAT correctly then being VAT registered is actually less profitable than not being VAT registered. If my example is flawed then maybe someone can correct me but isn't it:

Non VAT reg = buys mug for £1.20 sells it for £7.20 makes £6 profit.

VAT reg = buys mug at £1 (+20p VAT) sells it for £6 (+£1.20 VAT) so makes £5 profit + pays tax man £1 VAT (I think this is how VAT is paid)

Obviously if you are spending lots out on items such as rent, fuel etc it may work out different - but for most small from home businesses I cannot see how VAT registration could be an advantage.

Re: To be or not to be VAT Registered

Posted: 09 Oct 2012, 07:44
by Charlie_
WorthDoingRight;55648 wrote:If I understand VAT correctly then being VAT registered is actually less profitable than not being VAT registered. If my example is flawed then maybe someone can correct me but isn't it:

Non VAT reg = buys mug for £1.20 sells it for £7.20 makes £6 profit.

VAT reg = buys mug at £1 (+20p VAT) sells it for £6 (+£1.20 VAT) so makes £5 profit + pays tax man £1 VAT (I think this is how VAT is paid)

Obviously if you are spending lots out on items such as rent, fuel etc it may work out different - but for most small from home businesses I cannot see how VAT registration could be an advantage.
indeed your maths is correct Richard. ive never been better off by being registered.................I could be corrected by some one who sells lots of zero rated food stuff of course

Re: To be or not to be VAT Registered

Posted: 09 Oct 2012, 12:35
by mgibbs
I'm voluntarily registered because my computer business does mostly B2B trading.

The one advantage for me is that I effectively get a 20% discount on any equipment, software etc. I need.

Mark

Re: To be or not to be VAT Registered

Posted: 09 Oct 2012, 13:01
by accdave
WorthDoingRight;55648 wrote:If I understand VAT correctly then being VAT registered is actually less profitable than not being VAT registered. If my example is flawed then maybe someone can correct me but isn't it:

Non VAT reg = buys mug for £1.20 sells it for £7.20 makes £6 profit.

VAT reg = buys mug at £1 (+20p VAT) sells it for £6 (+£1.20 VAT) so makes £5 profit + pays tax man £1 VAT (I think this is how VAT is paid)

Obviously if you are spending lots out on items such as rent, fuel etc it may work out different - but for most small from home businesses I cannot see how VAT registration could be an advantage.
But if you're making more profit then you'll pay more tax.

Re: To be or not to be VAT Registered

Posted: 09 Oct 2012, 15:37
by WorthDoingRight
accdave;55694 wrote:But if you're making more profit then you'll pay more tax.
Well I would be happy to make more profit so that I could be taxed more :smile:

Anyway you cut it the tax is never more than the extra profit you will make. If you were taxed at 40% of £1 then it still leaves 60p more in your pocket!

Re: To be or not to be VAT Registered

Posted: 09 Oct 2012, 18:09
by GoldRapt
WorthDoingRight;55648 wrote:If I understand VAT correctly then being VAT registered is actually less profitable than not being VAT registered. If my example is flawed then maybe someone can correct me but isn't it:

Non VAT reg = buys mug for £1.20 sells it for £7.20 makes £6 profit.

VAT reg = buys mug at £1 (+20p VAT) sells it for £6 (+£1.20 VAT) so makes £5 profit + pays tax man £1 VAT (I think this is how VAT is paid)

Obviously if you are spending lots out on items such as rent, fuel etc it may work out different - but for most small from home businesses I cannot see how VAT registration could be an advantage.
So where does the 20p go that seems to be unaccounted for please?

Re: To be or not to be VAT Registered

Posted: 09 Oct 2012, 18:12
by WorthDoingRight
GoldRapt;55716 wrote:So where does the 20p go that seems to be unaccounted for please?
Which 20p if you mean the 20p VAT then it is deducted from the £1.20 VAT and you pay the VAT man the difference of £1. So it is accounted for.

Re: To be or not to be VAT Registered

Posted: 09 Oct 2012, 22:07
by socialgiraffe
As a VAT registered business, trust me, WDR's figures are spot on as is MGIBBS about if you are selling B2B it is probably better to be VAT registered. But that point also depends on what sort of business it is.

Re: To be or not to be VAT Registered

Posted: 09 Oct 2012, 22:14
by GoldRapt
I wasn't doing WDR down, I was trying to get my head around being a taxman for free, thinking it was 20p :-)

and as your turnover is 75K I'd love to see yer web site :-) whilst recalling Turnover is Vanity LoL:-)