VAT registering - client has more than one business

LynWest
LynWest Registered Posts: 122 Beyond epic contributor πŸ§™β€β™‚οΈ
I have a client who has three sole trader businesses.
One is a sandwich shop, one is a house letting agency and another is a mailbox agency.
The sandwich shop is over two sites, the letting agency and mailbox agency are in offices above the one sandwich shop. If the combined total of the turnover is over the VAT threshold does she have to register?
I thought that since the businesses are unrelated as in they are clearly different trades. She clearly isn't splitting the businesses into three to avoid VAT registration and they are different trades. I spoke to one accountant that said it is the person that is registered if all their businesses total turnover reach the threshold. But i only thought this was the case if the trade was similar like a mechanic that had one business repairing cars and another that sold car parts. He is clearly splitting the business to avoid VAT, but not many people would expect to buy sandwiches when going to let a house.
Can someone please clarify for me?
Many thanks

Comments

  • groundy
    groundy Registered Posts: 495 Dedicated contributor πŸ¦‰
    If it is a sole trader then it is the individual who is registered and therefore all three would be liable for VAT. The only way to avoid this if they are genuinely individual businesses is to look at setting some up as Ltd Co or Pships. May be worth you seeking some proper VAT advice if you are unsure
  • LynWest
    LynWest Registered Posts: 122 Beyond epic contributor πŸ§™β€β™‚οΈ
    Thanks Groundy
  • JodieR
    JodieR Registered Posts: 1,002 Beyond epic contributor πŸ§™β€β™‚οΈ
    yes, i agree with groundy. i had a client years ago who ran a proper business through the week and then did a couple of taxi-driving shifts on the weekend and wasn't impressed to hear that he had to include the taxi driving on his VAT return!
  • LynWest
    LynWest Registered Posts: 122 Beyond epic contributor πŸ§™β€β™‚οΈ
    Thanks Jodie
  • LynWest
    LynWest Registered Posts: 122 Beyond epic contributor πŸ§™β€β™‚οΈ
    Just to clarify then, if the cumulative reaches the threshold she could set up one business (most probably the sandwich shop as this has the most financial risk) as a Ltd company and then she would not have to pay VAT on any of the businesses. They are all genuinely separate businesses. Not many letting agents sell you a sandwich while you wait! I take it the Registration for the shop would then be in the companies name and therefore a separate entity. Thanks for all your help :thumbup1:
  • groundy
    groundy Registered Posts: 495 Dedicated contributor πŸ¦‰
    That's right if one of the businesses is Ltd it is a separate entity and therefore its sales are not part of the equation for VAT threshold. Are they run from separate premises with separate contact details? If so this shouldn't be a problem as its not an artificial separation.
  • LynWest
    LynWest Registered Posts: 122 Beyond epic contributor πŸ§™β€β™‚οΈ
    There are two sandwich shops separate premises, then the letting agency and the fedex agency are run from offices above the one shop. So the letting agency's address would be 1st floor where the shop would just be number x road x. I understand that people try and separate businesses to avoid vat, but these are really different industries.
Privacy Policy