Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many businesses in the UK are registered as (1) above the VAT threshold, and (2) below the VAT threshold.

The latest published statistics show that in the last year for which figures are available (2016-17), there were approximately 2,309,000 VAT registered businesses. Of these, approximately 1,179,000 were registered above the VAT threshold, and approximately 1,130,000 were registered below the VAT threshold.

The Office of Tax Simplification noted in their review of VAT published last year that the current design of the VAT threshold may be dis-incentivising small businesses from growing. The Chancellor at Autumn Budget recognised these concerns about the cliff edge nature of the threshold, but also noted that the threshold has the benefit of keeping the majority of UK businesses out of VAT altogether, and was therefore not minded to reduce the threshold, but would consult on whether its design could better incentivise growth.

The Government therefore launched a call for evidence to explore how the threshold could better incentivise growth at Spring Statement. This call for evidence closed on 5 June, and the Government will respond later this year. In the meantime, the threshold will remain at £85,000 for two years from April 2018.

The European Commission publishes details of VAT registration thresholds in the Member States. Their latest edition (April 2018) can be found on their website.