[Sean Dyer]

A good thread this, I am also on the verge and have decided to go LTD at the same time I register for VAT. (looks like being oct/nov)

I spoke to my accountant who said no way should I consider splitting the company, the tax man will see right through that ploy and nail me for it.
The way I see it i only have 2 choices, Back off and stay under the limit. or register and get out and bring in as much new work as I can to go through the limit and back to where I am now profit wise.
It means I will go backwards for a while but it will give me the drive I need to push onwards, after that the sky is the limit.
I am getting a new vehicle asap in preparation for this.
Timing is very important, if done correctly you can work it so you have a couple of months from declaring to paying (if I understood my accountant right)

good post

and i reckon if you dont have a good accountant now is the time to get one before you hit vat

[darren clarke]

dont forget the 12 months period is a rolling 12 months, so taking a month off wouldnt really help

spliting the company in to would not work, as theyu are both window cleanign companys,

how about selling some of your work

[Wc Solutions]

Yes mate its 72k we are in the process of registering and have been on the small business course at our local tax office.

spot on mate - have to agree with that - right way of doing it.

def speak to your accountant tho ....

we found that the best and easier way of getting everything in order.

[Rob Smith]

If you go ltd from a sole trader the 72K threshold starts again......What this means is that you have more time trading as non vat registered. (it delays it rather than stops it). A ltd company is a completely new entity. You cannot obviously go back to being a sole trader once you hit the threshold again( to avoid vat). Speak with your accountant.

[ronnie paton]

i my self had this problem, in december 2009 i went vat registered.

i took the hit on some and others i charged went on the fkat rate wgich is 10.5% and that is discounted for first year by to 9.5%.

You know your customers and who you will get away with increasing, i ended up even which is were i wanted to be, since then though iv had plenty of new work which has incresed me to way above vat and i even make a little out of charging vat.

Going vat registered is all part of expanding and growing from a one man band, if you have any ambitions to becoma  a resonable side you will have to start to pay sooner or later.