Harrogate Borough Council

If you're in business, you must register for VAT if your VAT taxable turnover for the previous 12 months is more than the VAT registration threshold (£68,000 in 2009).

 

The threshold changes - usually once a year, announced in the Budget - check your turnover against the current threshold at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/index.htm > businesses and corporations > VAT.

 

 

 

VAT registrations and de-registrations provide an indicator of business start up's and closures and are used as an indicator of local economic health, including levels of entrepreneurship. 

In 2005 - 2006 the number of VAT registered businesses rose by 2.1 % (150) to a total of 7,330.  In the previous year, 2004 - 2005, the rate of growth was more than double, at 5.4% - indicating a potential slow down in business rate formation and growth. 

 

Over the longer term the trend has remained one of growth; during the decade 1996 - 2006 the number of VAT registered businesses increased by 20%, from just under 6,100 to 7,330.

 

VAT registrations, Harrogate District	1996	2001	2005	2006
Registrations	565	535	610	625
De-registrations	460	465	450	475
Stocks at end of year	6,085	6,560	7,180	7,330
Net change	+105	+70	+160	+150

 

For information on VAT registrations and de-registrations in the Harrogate district and other local authorities in the region, see Progress in the Leeds City Region, and Progess in York and North Yorkshire (March 2009).