Guide

VAT Guide For Business

Making a start with VAT? Want to know more about how MTD for VAT impacts you? This guide will help you get sorted.

A small business owner holding up a price tag

Now that you have your guide

Managing finances can feel overwhelming. With Xero’s powerful tools, small businesses can stay organised and confident.

Download the VAT Guide for Business

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Getting to know VAT and MTD

Find out what VAT means for your business and get tips on how to handle some of the core tasks.

  1. What is VAT and how much is it?

    You’ve probably heard about VAT before – it stands for Value Added Tax and is added onto prices in the UK.

  2. Registering for VAT

    Find out if your business needs to worry about VAT. And if so, learn how to register for VAT.

  3. Calculating VAT and issuing VAT invoices

    If you’re a VAT-registered business you must add VAT to your prices. You also need to issue VAT invoices. Find out how.

  4. Claiming back VAT

    VAT-registered businesses can claim back the VAT they pay on business expenses. Let’s learn how.

  5. Working out your VAT refund or payment

    Working out VAT is simple maths. Keeping track of all your transactions is the tricky part. Let’s learn the process.

  6. Filing VAT return through Making Tax Digital

    Once you’ve registered for VAT, you’ll need to submit returns online regularly – and square up with HMRC. Here’s how.

  7. Tools and guides for your business

    Now you know the ins and outs of VAT, but it can be tough to keep on top of it all. Xero’s got the resources to help.

Why Xero knows VAT

Millions of small businesses and 250,000 accountants and bookkeepers use our software to deal with things like VAT returns. We asked some of them for explanations and pointers, which we put into this guide.

Handy resources for small businesses

Running a business takes a lot of hard work. You might also find these other resources helpful.

Cash flow forecast template

Use this template to find out how much money you’ll have in the bank next week, next month, or even next year.

Get the free template

Guide to growing your business

Learn what goes into growing a business and get ideas to help you take the next step.

Read the growing your business guide

Invoice guide

Don’t let your cash flow suffer. Check out our tips on the art of invoicing to help speed up payment.

Read the invoicing guide