Purchases made before VAT registration: reclaiming the VAT

If you buy goods or services before you registered for VAT, you may be able to reclaim the VAT you paid on them.

You can generally reclaim VAT on goods you bought up to four years before you registered for VAT, and services you bought up to six months before you registered. Remember too that you may be able to backdate your VAT registration by up to four years although once your date of registration has been agreed with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), it cannot normally be changed.

There are conditions you must meet in order to reclaim this VAT, including keeping specific records of what you bought and how you use, sell or dispose of them.

This guide explains what goods and services you may be able to claim back the VAT on, and what you need to do to reclaim it.

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Reclaiming VAT on goods you bought before registration

You can reclaim VAT on goods you bought or imported no more than four years before you were registered for VAT if all the following are true:

  • the goods were bought by you as the entity that is now registered for VAT (for example, the individual, business or organisation)
  • the goods are for your VAT taxable business purposes, which means they must relate to VAT taxable goods or services that you supply
  • the goods are still held by you or they have been used to make other goods you still hold

You can't reclaim VAT on any of these goods:

  • goods that you've completely used up before you registered for VAT (such as petrol, electricity or gas)
  • goods that you have already sold or supplied before being registered, or have used to make goods you have sold or supplied before being registered
  • goods that relate to supplies you make that are exempt from VAT

The word 'goods' includes goods that are intended for resale, and also goods that you keep as assets, such as computer systems, shop fittings, office equipment and furniture, tills, vans and other equipment. It also covers anything else you've bought that isn't a service, so it includes consumables such as stationery.

Find out about exempt and partly-exempt supplies and businesses

Apportioning goods used for both business and non-business purposes

If you buy goods that you use for both business and non-business purposes, you can only reclaim VAT on the proportion of the goods that you use for business purposes. Non-business purposes include items for private or charitable use.

For example if you buy a computer and use it a third of the time for business purposes, you can only reclaim a third of the VAT.

Find out how to reclaim VAT on goods used for both business and private purposes

How to reclaim VAT on goods you bought before registration

To reclaim VAT on goods bought before you registered for VAT, you will need to carry out a careful stock check and record the quantities of goods and the dates when you obtained them. This will form the basis of the records you need to keep to validate your claim - see the section in this guide on the records you must keep.

You will also need to check that you still have evidence that you paid VAT on those goods. You need VAT invoices from suppliers in the UK or the EU, and import VAT certificates (form C79) for imports from outside the EU.

You reclaim VAT on goods bought before registration by including their value in box 4 of your first VAT Return. Note that you can do this even if you are on the Flat Rate Scheme.

If there have been any VAT rate changes in the period before your registration, you should take care to ensure you are using the correct rate of VAT to calculate the amount you claim back.

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Reclaiming VAT on services you bought before registration

You can reclaim VAT on services you bought during the six months before you registered for VAT if both the following are true:

  • the services were bought by you as the entity (for example, the individual, business or organisation) that is now registered for VAT
  • the services are for your VAT taxable business purposes, which means they must relate to VAT taxable goods or services that you supply

You cannot reclaim VAT on any of these services:

  • services that relate to goods you disposed of before you were registered for VAT - for example, repairs to a machine you sold before you were registered
  • services that relate to goods or services you supply that are exempt from VAT

Examples of services you might have paid for when starting your business are legal and accountancy fees, services relating to setting up your computer and other equipment, and fees and services relating to your premises. You can reclaim the VAT on these and other services assuming all the conditions listed here are met.

Find out about exempt and partly-exempt supplies and businesses

Apportioning services used for both business and non-business purposes

If you buy services that you use for both business and non-business purposes, you can only reclaim VAT on the proportion of the services that you use for business purposes. Non-business purposes include items for private or charitable use.

For example if you use your internet access service a third of the time for business purposes, you can only reclaim a third of the VAT on that service.

Find out how to reclaim VAT on items used for both business and private purposes

How to reclaim VAT on services you bought before registration

To reclaim VAT on services bought before you registered for VAT, you will first have to compile an account of these services. This must describe the services and the dates when you received them. You will also need to have the evidence that you have paid the VAT on those services. See the section in this guide on the records you must keep.

You reclaim VAT on services bought before registration by including their value in box 4 of your first VAT Return.

If there have been any VAT rate changes in the period before your registration, you should take care to ensure you are using the correct rate of VAT to calculate the amount you claim back.

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Records you must keep

If you want to reclaim VAT on goods and services you bought before you were registered, you must have a valid VAT invoice or receipt for each item. You must also keep the following records.

For goods

You must keep a detailed stock account of the goods on which you are reclaiming VAT. Your records must show:

  • a description and quantities of goods you bought and the dates you bought them
  • when you have used any of the goods you bought to make other goods
  • when you have disposed of any of these goods after you were registered for VAT

For services

You must keep a detailed account of the services for which you are reclaiming VAT. Your records must show:

  • a description of the services and the dates when you received them
  • whether any services you received relate to goods you disposed of after you were registered for VAT

HMRC may ask to see these records before you can receive your VAT repayment, or may want to inspect them when HMRC visit you.

Find out about keeping correct VAT receipts

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If your business is 'exempt' or 'partly exempt'

There are some goods and services on which VAT is not charged. These are exempt from VAT. Items which are exempt from VAT include insurance and finance, education and training and charitable fund raising, if certain conditions are met.

If all of the goods and services you sell are exempt, your business is exempt and you will not be able to register for VAT. This means you won't be able to reclaim any VAT on your business purchases.

If only some of the goods and services you sell are exempt then your business is partly exempt and you'll be able to get back some of the VAT you pay on your business purchases.

More about which goods and services might be exempt from VAT

Find out about exempt and partly-exempt supplies and businesses

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If you're taking over a business as a going concern

Instead of starting up a new business yourself, you might buy a business that someone else has set up. This is known as taking over a business as a going concern.

There are special rules that apply for registering for VAT and reclaiming VAT when you buy a business as a going concern.

Find out about taking over a business as a going concern

More useful links

Find out when you may and when you must register for VAT

Find more information about reclaiming VAT

More about reclaiming VAT on items you bought before registration in VAT Notice 700

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