They compare you to a Ltd that is VAT-registered. Their quote is £3,000 + VAT. Yours is £3,000. You feel cheap, so you add VAT to look bigger. You are not HMRC. You are padding a PDF.
How to show it
| You are | On the quote |
|---|---|
| Not registered | One total. “No VAT charged (not VAT registered).” |
| Registered, prices ex VAT | Net, then VAT, then gross |
| Registered, prices inc VAT | Gross, and “includes VAT” |
| About to register mid-job | Do not guess. Get advice. Do not invent a line |
Customers will still ask “is VAT on top?” Answer in the same message as the PDF. Silence is how they budget £2,400 and you meant something else.
Quote attached: hall, stairs and landing £2,400. I am not VAT registered, so no VAT is added. Reply YES to accept. Valid 30 days.
If they want a VAT invoice you cannot issue, say so. Do not mock up a VAT number. If you later register, that is a new conversation on new work — not a quiet 20% on a job they already accepted.
What people miss
A VAT column of £0. Looks like you are registered and forgot. One sentence is cleaner.
Matching a VAT-inclusive competitor by adding 20%. Their 20% goes to HMRC. Yours would go into your pocket under the wrong name.
“Plus VAT” in the chat when the PDF has none. Pick one story. The paper and the bubble have to match.
CIS confusion. CIS deductions on labour for a contractor are not VAT. Do not use a VAT line to stand in for CIS.
Related guides
FAQ
- Will I look unprofessional without VAT?
- No. Plenty of UK trades are under the threshold. Looking professional is a clear scope, not a fake tax.
- Can I show what it would be with VAT?
- Do not. It reads as a threat or a made-up extra. Quote what they pay you.
- They are a VAT-registered company.
- They still cannot reclaim VAT you did not charge. Your price is your price.
- What if I register next month?
- New quotes after you register need VAT as required. Do not retrofit an old yes. Get proper tax advice.
