Register for VAT

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Changing your details

You must keep your VAT registration details up to date. Some changes mean you have to cancel your VAT registration or transfer your VAT registration.

Tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) within 30 days of any changes to the:

  • name, trading听name听or main address of听your business
  • accountant or agent who deals with your VAT
  • members of a partnership, or the name or home address of any of the partners

You might need to pay a penalty if you do not tell HMRC about changes within 30 days.

Updating details in your online account

Use your online account to update:

  • your contact name and address
  • your repayment bank details
  • your return dates (unless you have a non-standard tax period)
  • members of a partnership

Sign in to your VAT online account.

If you cannot use the online account

Contact HMRC to tell them about the change.

Changing the details of a partner in a partnership

You must send form VAT2 to the VAT Registration Service to report changes to a partner鈥檚 details, such as name or address.

Changing your company name

Who to tell you鈥檝e changed your company name depends on if you have a Company Registration Number (CRN) or you鈥檙e registered for Self Assessment.

If you have a CRN, tell Companies House.听They鈥檒l tell HMRC.

If you鈥檙e registered for Self Assessment, tell the Self Assessment team.

Your business tax account will show your new company name within 15 days.

If you鈥檙e overseas, contact HMRC to update your company name.

Changing your bank details

You must tell HMRC at least 14 days in advance if you鈥檙e changing your bank details.

If you pay your VAT by Direct Debit, you鈥檒l need to tell your bank as well. Do not do this in the 5 banking days before or after your VAT return is due - it could mean you get charged twice.

If you use the Annual Accounting Scheme, you must write to the Annual Accounting Registration Unit to change your Direct Debit details. Include your registration number.

If you take over someone else鈥檚 VAT responsibilities

You must tell HMRC within 21 days if you take over the VAT responsibilities of someone who has died or is ill and unable to manage their own affairs.

To tell HMRC, do both of the following:

If you鈥檙e reporting an illness, include a copy of the Power of Attorney with form VAT68.

If you鈥檙e an insolvency practitioner

If you鈥檙e an acting insolvency practitioner and want to change VAT registration details you must contact HMRC.

If you join a VAT group

If you鈥檙e joining a VAT group, the group must complete a VAT50-51 form. You鈥檒l need to use the group鈥檚 VAT registration number once you鈥檝e joined it. The VAT group should tell HMRC about the new member.

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