News How to register VAT

[Vat_Cal]

I’m looking for clear guidance on how to register for UK VAT, because my experience trying to deal with VAT as a business operating from Ireland has been extremely frustrating.

I run a small business based in Ireland, but my customers and trading activity are primarily in the UK, so I need to register for UK VAT, not Irish VAT. When I contacted Irish Revenue for guidance, I received conflicting and confusing information. Some agents told me I must register for Irish VAT first, others said I should apply directly to HMRC in the UK, and no one could clearly explain how cross-border VAT registration is supposed to work post-Brexit.

I attempted to research the process myself, but most guides are either outdated or assume you are a UK-based business. I’m particularly confused about whether I need:

• A UK establishment or address to register for UK VAT
• A UK VAT fiscal representative (or whether this is still required)
• To register under the Non-Established Taxable Person (NETP) rules
• To charge UK VAT on invoices without having any Irish VAT registration

Because of this uncertainty, my UK clients are delaying payments, and I’m worried I may already be non-compliant without realizing it. I’ve lost time and money trying to get clear answers, and the lack of consistent guidance has made the whole process far more stressful than it should be.

Can someone explain in plain terms:

• How a non-UK business can register for UK VAT
• Whether Irish VAT registration is required or not
• What documents HMRC typically asks for
• Common mistakes to avoid when registering for UK VAT from Ireland

Any advice from someone who has successfully registered for UK VAT as an Irish-based business would be hugely appreciated, because my experience so far has been confusing, slow, and very discouraging.