VAT: Registration

(asked on 15th December 2022) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Harlech on 14 December (HL3897), what representations they have received about the length of time it takes for VAT registrations to be processed.


Answered by
Baroness Penn Portrait
Baroness Penn
Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
This question was answered on 4th January 2023

In July 2022 HMRC came under a significant attack from VAT registration fraudsters and we saw the number of registrations being sent to HMRC increase to unprecedented levels. To deal with this issue a number of measures were urgently put in place to protect genuine customers and to stop the increase in fraudulent activity. These measures entailed additional security checks that meant that some genuine customers were caught in the new processes to ensure the authenticity of the registration being made. HMRC understands the frustrations from agents and businesses and are working to ensure all genuine registrations are processed as quickly as possible.

Due to the high numbers of new registrations being submitted to HMRC during the summer, HMRC did not always meet their service standard over that time.

HMRC has received representations from individuals and organisations regarding timescales for registering customers for VAT. Where representations are made, HMRC has and will continue to work with individuals and businesses to overcome any challenges they are facing where possible.

HMRC works hard to be open and transparent, particularly with business and agent representative bodies who HMRC meet regularly. HMRC have also, this year, stepped up their transparency by explaining processing times to agents through the HMRC Service Dashboard on GOV.UK.

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