VAT Registration & VAT Grouping Essentials - Best Practice, Pitfalls & More

Introduction

The webinar takes a practical look at both VAT registration and VAT group registration, exploring the key rules, thresholds and processes, as well as highlighting important planning considerations.

On completion of this webinar, you will have a clearer understanding of how to apply VAT rules in practice, identify opportunities for clients and avoid common pitfalls.

It is ideal for accountants, solicitors and other professional advisors who are either new to VAT registration, in need of a refresher, or keen to ensure they are up to date with current best practice.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• When you must register for VAT
• Understanding the two tests
• Calculating taxable turnover
• Avoiding common traps
• When you can register voluntarily
• Meeting the conditions
• The position of intending traders
• When voluntary registration is beneficial (and when it isn’t)
• Recognising common pitfalls
• The VAT registration process
• Completing a registration for yourself or a client
• Providing the key information HMRC requires
• Managing timescales and following up with HMRC
• Dealing with the period before a VAT number is issued
• Recovering VAT incurred before registration
• Maximising recovery of pre-registration VAT
• Making a claim for pre-registration input tax
• Weighing up backdating a voluntary registration versus a pre-registration input tax claim
• VAT groups
• Understanding the basics of VAT groups
• Meeting the conditions for VAT grouping
• Evaluating the pros and cons of VAT grouping
• Navigating the VAT grouping process
• Managing the period while awaiting a VAT group number
• Considering the key consequences of VAT grouping

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Monday 9th March 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 1,900+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.