Readers’ forum: VAT registration processing delays affecting clients

We have two clients who have now been waiting for months to register for VAT.

One application goes back to 1 June 2022 and when we never heard from HMRC we tried again online on 12 July 2022. That still didn’t work so we tried a paper application on 18 August 2022.

Neither I nor my clients have heard from HMRC – this is a process that should take two weeks.

What should my clients do? One was due to be registered for VAT from 1 January 2022 and has little chance of retrospectively claiming it from their clients. I am advising them to pay only the VAT that they are able to recover. After all it is hardly their fault that they do not have VAT registration in place.

Frankly it is a disgusting situation. Please advise.

Query 20 047 – Richard Nelson...