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ICAEW Registered Auditors  ·  90+ UK-Based Experts

VAT Recovery

Maximise the VAT you reclaim — structured reviews of expenses, capital spend and past returns that recover input VAT you're entitled to but may be leaving behind.

Speak to a Specialist Call 020 8567 3451

Most businesses under-recover VAT somewhere: miscoded expenses, missed invoices, over-cautious restrictions or a partial exemption method that no longer fits. Our VAT recovery team reviews your position, quantifies what's been missed and prepares the claims — with the documentation to support every pound.

Our VAT Recovery Services

- VAT Recovery Reviews: systematic reviews of expenses and coding to identify missed input VAT - Input VAT Recovery: maximising recovery on business expenses and purchases - Capital Goods VAT Recovery: recovery on capital assets, including capital goods scheme adjustments - Historical VAT Recovery: error correction claims for past periods where VAT should have been recovered - Partial Exemption Recovery: attribution and method reviews for businesses with taxable and exempt supplies - Claim Preparation and Submission: claims prepared, evidenced and filed with HMRC, and defended if queried

What VAT Can Be Recovered?

VAT can generally be recovered on costs used for taxable business activities: - Business Expenses: supplies, services and overheads supporting taxable sales - Capital Purchases: equipment, systems and qualifying property costs - Professional Services: accounting, legal and consultancy fees - Business Travel: travel and accommodation (subject to restrictions) - Pre-Registration Costs: VAT incurred before you registered can often be reclaimed on your first return, subject to time limits and conditions

VAT Recovery Restrictions

Some VAT cannot be recovered, and claiming it invites assessments: - Business Entertainment: generally blocked - Private Use: VAT on goods and services with a private element must be apportioned - Exempt Activities: VAT on costs of exempt supplies is restricted under partial exemption rules - Motor Cars: input VAT on most car purchases is blocked, with different rules for leasing, commercial vehicles and fuel

Knowing where the lines sit lets you claim confidently right up to them — and no further.

Integration with Other Services

Recovery reviews feed naturally into our VAT planning services (structuring future spend for recovery), VAT returns service (so improvements stick period after period) and bookkeeping services (coding fixed at source, where under-recovery usually starts).

What You Get With Acumon

  • Structured recovery reviews across expenses, overheads and capital spend
  • Historical error correction claims prepared and filed
  • Partial exemption attribution and method reviews
  • Pre-registration VAT recovery on first returns
  • Claims evidenced to withstand HMRC scrutiny
  • Coding and process fixes so recovery improves permanently

Why Acumon for VAT Recovery?

  • Covers input VAT, capital goods, historical claims and partial exemption recovery
  • Many of Acumon's VAT specialists previously worked for HMRC
  • Recovery work integrated with the firm's bookkeeping and VAT returns services

Get a Fixed-Fee Quote

Tell us what you need and we'll come back within one business day with a clear scope and a fixed price — no hourly-rate surprises. Call 020 8567 3451 or use the form and we'll be in touch.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What VAT can my business reclaim?
Input VAT on goods and services used for your taxable business activities — stock, equipment, overheads, professional fees and more — provided you hold valid VAT invoices. Restrictions apply to entertainment, cars, private use and costs relating to exempt activities.
Can I reclaim VAT on business entertainment or cars?
Business entertainment VAT is generally blocked, and so is input VAT on most car purchases — though commercial vehicles, some leases and fuel follow different rules, and staff entertainment is treated differently from client entertainment. We map the boundaries for your spend.
How far back can I claim missed VAT?
Past under-claims can usually be corrected going back up to four years, via an adjustment on a current return or a standalone error correction claim depending on size. The clock keeps running, so reviews are worth doing sooner rather than later.
Can I recover VAT incurred before registering for VAT?
Often, yes — VAT on goods still on hand and on services received before registration can typically be reclaimed on your first VAT return, subject to time limits and conditions. It's one of the most commonly missed claims for new registrations.
We make some exempt supplies — can we still recover VAT?
Yes, partially. Partial exemption rules determine how much of your input VAT is recoverable, and the calculation method matters enormously. A method review — or a special method negotiated with HMRC — frequently increases recovery.
Get in Touch

Ready to Sort Your VAT Recovery?

Tell us what you need. Within one business day, a qualified accountant will be in touch to talk it through and give you a clear, fixed-fee quote — no obligation.

Visit us1-2 Craven Road, Ealing, London, W5 2UA

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