VAT Registration for Non-UK Business Selling Personalised Books in the UK

[GEO P]

Hello there!

I’m looking for advice on VAT registration and compliance for our small family business, which is based outside the UK. Here’s the situation:

• Our company is based in EU country and registered for VAT.
• We plan to sell personalised gift books to customers in the UK through our online store.
• The books will be produced, packaged, and dispatched directly to UK customers by a UK-based printing company.
• However, we do not have a physical establishment in the UK, and all sales will go through our online shop which is registrated to our EU company.

Questions:

1. Are we required to register for VAT in the UK from the first sale, given that the books are zero-rated for VAT purposes?
2. Are there any specific compliance or reporting requirements we need to be aware of as a non-UK business operating in this way?

I’d be grateful for any insights or experiences from others who have dealt with similar situations. Thanks in advance for your help!

Kind regards,
Geo

 

[antropy]

Do you not have an accountant you could ask?

And have you looked here?

VAT: detailed information

Guidance, notices and forms for VAT. Including rates, returns, paying, accounting schemes, charging and reclaiming, imports and exports and overseas businesses.

www.gov.uk

Paul.