VAT registration online

[Ltd]

I need to make my limited company VAT registered, it would not be a good IT contractor if this is not done online. But then the story begins.
I go here - https://www.gov.uk/vat-registration/how-to-register, which brings me here - https://online.hmrc.gov.uk/registrat...siness-allowed, next, next again, I have a Government Gateway account, login, then nothing about limited company let alone VAT registration. What am I doing wrong?
Calling HMRC does not help as they seem to be too busy chasing those outside IR35 to pick up the phone. Or is there a secret HMRC phone to speak to a human straight away?

[Andrew@Wisteria]

I noticed you were asking about accountants in your previous post....here at Nyman Linden we offer this VAT registration as part of the set up service for new clients.

[tractor]

...

I need to make my limited company VAT registered, it would not be a good IT contractor if this is not done online. But then the story begins.
I go here - https://www.gov.uk/vat-registration/how-to-register, which brings me here - https://online.hmrc.gov.uk/registrat...siness-allowed, next, next again, I have a Government Gateway account, login, then nothing about limited company let alone VAT registration. What am I doing wrong?
Calling HMRC does not help as they seem to be too busy chasing those outside IR35 to pick up the phone. Or is there a secret HMRC phone to speak to a human straight away?

You need to register online for each service that you wish to access. You need to register separately for company and personal services.

Once you have registered, they will send you a code, similar to a scratch code the bank sends after issuing a card.

Once you have the activation code, log on, register it and make your application to register for VAT.

In the meantime, you will need to store your reciepts and not account for VAT on them and also make sure you do not charge VAT until you get your VAT certificate. I don't think they post them now, you just download and print the PDF, once your account is set up.

Once you have your certificate, you need to issue a VAT only invoice to your client(s) and then adjust your account to cover it. Make sure your agent is aware this will be happening by putting the terms VAT ONLY INVOICE on the adjustment invoice and don't include any other services on it to keep it clear. You could hold off sending invoices until you get the certificate but I wouldn't recommend it because it can take up to 6 weeks (although I believe for straightforward applications a couple of weeks to a month is the norm.

Be aware though that there may be a non vat payment in the system when you provide the VAT only invoice that may get missed by your agent, this happened to me and I only caught it at year end so check early for it.

Also, importantly make sure you ask for the registration to start on the day of the contract or before if you want to include a VAT claim for set up costs.

HTH

[Forbes Young]

I noticed you were asking about accountants in your previous post....here at Nyman Linden we offer this VAT registration as part of the set up service for new clients.

So do we along with FRS registration and PAYE set-up. As I understand it, this is what most specialist contractor accountants also do for their clients.