Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many UK VAT registration numbers have been identified as having been used in customs declarations submitted under PVA (Postponed VAT Accounting) after the registration was cancelled, and what steps HMRC took to notify customs agents and freight forwarders when such cancellations occurred.

HMRC does not hold information on de-registered VRNs being used in customs declarations. Since June 2025 it has not been possible for entities who have cancelled their VAT registration to continue to use that registration number (VRN) to use Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA). Customs agents and freight forwarders who try to use a deregistered VRN to notify PVA would have those declarations rejected. Intermediaries are expected to complete due diligence using Check a UK VAT number - GOV.UK to confirm the status of a VRN before using it to notify PVA on a customs declaration.