Budget 2018: VAT threshold frozen until 2022

Philip Hammond has confirmed that the existing £85,000 VAT threshold will remain in place for a further two years until April 2022.

There were concerns that the VAT threshold could be reduced by as much as 50% after the Government sought guidance on the current design of the VAT registration threshold. However, calls for evidence to reduce the existing VAT threshold to increase revenue for the Treasury did not provide a clear option for reform.

It is a Budget 2018 decision which will cost the Exchequer £60 million in 2020/21 and an additional £130 million in 2021/22.

There was a belief that some businesses were purposefully choosing to keep their turnover below the £85,000 threshold to avoid having to charge VAT, stunting their business growth in the process.

While the Government has sought to maintain the status quo, the Chancellor confirmed that the Government would revisit options for reforming the VAT system once the final terms of the UK’s trade deal with the European Union (EU) have been agreed.

Date published 29 Oct 2018 | Last updated 29 Oct 2018