VAT registration clampdown

HMRC has announced that its latest campaign will target individuals and businesses who have income above the VAT threshold but who have not registered for VAT. This campaign will start in June/July 2011.

The details on how this campaign will work will be published soon. But, it is likely that it will follow the same type of registration as the recent Plumbers Tax Safe Plan and earlier medical and offshore disclosures. The Plumbers Tax Safe Plan offered a reduced penalty for notification of a liability and subsequent disclosure and payment of the tax due. It offered a short notification period which ended on the 31 May followed by a three month period in which disclosure and payment could be made.