Everything new businesses need to know about VAT

For any new business there is a seemingly endless list of tasks from day one. But what happens after it has secured funding, designed and tested a delicious product, carefully placed some glossy photographs on social media and established a market of hungry customers. 

What’s next on the to do list?

One early consideration for any new business should be VAT, this can be a daunting issue and for the food and beverage sector there are specific issues to consider. That said, for businesses that trade in zero rated goods (most food) there can be benefits to registering for VAT early in the start-up.  

Impact on margin

As most foods are zero rated for VAT it may not be necessary to charge VAT to customers.  There are exceptions (the infamous case of the Jaffa Cake illustrates an example) so it is important to make sure to get VAT liabilities correct from the start. In the Jaffa Cake case there was a disagreement between HMRC and McVities about whether Jaffa Cakes are indeed cakes or biscuits. It mattered because chocolate covered biscuits are subject to VAT but chocolate covered cakes aren’t. While counter arguments about how they are sold (in the biscuit aisle) were heard the argument was eventually settled by the producer baking a cake sized Jaffa Cake to show that they had a cake sponge. It is also a key factor that a Jaffa Cake becomes dry when stale (like a Victoria sandwich) whereas biscuits go soft! Personally, we would have also argued that the poor ‘dunkability’ of a Jaffa Cake clearly banishes it from biscuit status.

The VAT law for food contains exceptions to a main rule and exceptions that override the exceptions, these complications make it important to determine the correct VAT treatment right at the start. In recent years there have also been updates for new products such as spirulina, health food bars, marshmallows and meal replacements among others so businesses are recommended to seek advice from a professional. If a business gets this wrong, its margins could be compromised by 20% – especially if the product that it thought was zero rated turns out to be standard rate.

VAT registration

Next up is the issue of registering for VAT. While registration is compulsory for a business with a taxable turnover exceeding £85,000 per annum a business can also register on a voluntary basis if it can evidence an intention to trade. This means they can start reclaiming VAT on set up costs – even before the first sale. For businesses that expect to be in a regular repayment position (i.e. claiming more VAT on costs than the VAT due from sales) it is also possible to submit monthly returns. 

Naturally, the 20% VAT paid when investing in kitchen equipment, premises and agency staff etc could come in very useful. Don’t forget that commercial energy consumption is charged at 20% in comparison to domestic at 5% so to be able to claim that back from HMRC could cushion some of the impact of high fuel prices. The benefits to cashflow could make all the difference in those difficult early days but of course HMRC are very likely to check first returns for new businesses so it’s important to have the right support and advice in place.

Making Tax Digital (MTD)

We highly recommend seeking out MTD compliant accounting software as with few exceptions HMRC now require VAT returns to be submitted and maintained digitally. Most of the mainstream suppliers of software have MTD products but if a business prefers to use a simple spreadsheet it may be possible to use bridging software to comply.

Other income

In these days of minimising waste, the business may be planning to boost sales by finding an alternative purpose for a by-product or ‘waste material’? If so and this is likely to produce additional sales, the VAT liability should be considered and the income reported on the VAT return.

E-commerce, exporting and importing

New e-commerce rules have been introduced since the UK withdrew from the EU and consignments under £135/$150 have specific rules. Additionally, selling through an online market place may give other issues to consider. As there are a further set of VAT rules aimed at sellers using online market places.

If sourcing goods or ingredients from the EU be aware of new border controls for high risk food being introduced between 2023 and 2025. These are likely to result in higher costs and administrative burdens for bringing goods into the UK. The plans and changes are moving at pace, so we recommend keeping aware and making plans to keep supplied. 

For further information or to discuss how we can help, please contact Robert Marchant, Helen Wickenden or your usual Crowe contact.

This article was first published in Speciality Food Magazine on 8 June 2023.