VAT threshold tracker

Track your rolling 12-month turnover against the £90,000 VAT registration threshold, so you register on time and never late.

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Part of our guide to creator tax guide UK.

Quick answer

This VAT threshold calculator checks your rolling 12-month turnover against the £90,000 VAT registration threshold and the £88,000 deregistration threshold, so creators and freelancers know exactly when action is needed.

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VAT threshold tracker (rolling 12 months)

Rolling 12-month taxable turnover£72,000
Registration threshold£90,000
Headroom before registering£18,000

You are at 80% of the threshold on this rolling 12-month view.

Estimate only, using 2026/27 figures. Deregistration is possible below £88,000. The forward-look test can also trigger registration if you expect to pass the threshold in the next 30 days. General information only, based on 2026/27 UK rules. Not personal advice. Speak to us about your circumstances.

Who this is for

Is this you?

Growing creators

Brand deals and platform income pushing turnover higher each month.

Freelancers with several clients

Invoicing across multiple platforms and direct clients.

Anyone near the threshold

Unsure whether a strong month tips them over.

VAT-registered creators

Checking whether falling income means deregistration is worth considering.

Income streams

Everything we handle for you

  • Brand deal invoices
  • Platform payouts
  • Freelance client fees
  • Affiliate commissions
  • Digital product sales

Sound familiar?

Problems you face, answered

Tax explained

How VAT threshold calculator works

VAT registration in the UK becomes compulsory once your rolling 12-month taxable turnover exceeds £90,000, checked continuously rather than at the end of a fixed tax year.

This means you should review your total turnover for the trailing 12 months every month, not just once a year, because a strong run of brand deals can tip you over sooner than expected.

Once registered, you must charge VAT on your sales, generally at 20%, and can reclaim VAT on your business purchases, which changes both your pricing and your admin.

If your turnover later drops and is expected to stay below £88,000 for the next 12 months, you may apply to deregister, though this is optional rather than automatic.

Making Tax Digital rules require VAT-registered businesses to keep digital records and file VAT returns through compatible software.

Missing the registration deadline can mean backdated VAT liabilities and penalties, so tracking your rolling turnover with this VAT threshold calculator is worth doing regularly.

Source: Income Tax rates and allowances (gov.uk) · Self Assessment (gov.uk)

General information only, based on 2026/27 UK rules. Not personal advice. Speak to us about your circumstances.

Structure

Sole trader or limited company?

£
Sole trader£46,111
Limited company£46,091

Illustrative estimate only. Uses the published 2026/27 tax configuration. Assumes a single-director company drawing all profit, with no Employment Allowance. Excludes expenses, student loans, pensions, other income, Scottish rates and individual circumstances. Not tax advice.

Open the full sole trader vs limited company calculator

Diary

Key deadlines

  1. 5 October

    Register for Self Assessment for the previous tax year

  2. 31 October

    Paper tax return deadline

  3. 31 January

    Online return, balancing payment and first payment on account

  4. 31 July

    Second payment on account

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Reviews

What clients say

Written and reviewed by

Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT

Chartered Accountant with 18+ years' experience and founder of Accotax. Has served over 5,000 clients across London and the UK.

About Waqas SagarAccotax on LinkedIn Last reviewed: 2026-09-21

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