The VAT People

What The VAT People does

The VAT People Limited is a privately held UK VAT and Customs Duty consultancy headquartered in Stockport, founded in 1996. The firm provides bespoke advisory services across the full VAT lifecycle — VAT registration, partial exemption calculations, health checks, compliance reviews, planning, training, due diligence, and representation in HMRC investigations and tribunal disputes. Service delivery is built around a team of ex-HMRC inspectors and senior VAT consultants whose direct regulatory experience is positioned as the firm's primary differentiator.

The business serves UK businesses across multiple verticals including charities and not-for-profits, land and property developers, international trade businesses, insurance brokers, opticians, healthcare providers, and partially exempt organisations. The firm also supports a network of over 1,200 UK accountancy practices through its Accountants' Network, providing specialist VAT expertise that accounting firms channel to their own clients. Channel reach is augmented by a free telephone helpline, a content marketing programme (advice hub, news articles, newsletter), and testimonials/public case studies demonstrating six-figure VAT savings.

The revenue model is professional services fee-for-engagement, with pricing appearing quote-based and undisclosed publicly. The firm is founder/management-owned, with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional investors. There is no evidence of proprietary technology products, software platforms, or AI-enabled tooling — the offering is human-expert-led advisory work delivered across a single national market (UK).

Name

The VAT People

Legal name

The VAT People Limited

Website

https://thevatpeople.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The VAT People is a UK-based VAT and Customs Duty consultancy serving businesses across charities, property, healthcare, insurance, and international trade verticals, as well as 1,200+ accountancy firm partners, via a team of ex-HMRC inspectors delivering bespoke advisory, dispute representation, and compliance services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockport

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. VAT Consultancy Services: Professional consultancy fees for bespoke VAT advice, VAT health checks, compliance reviews, training, and representation in HMRC disputes. Services are priced on a project or engagement basis, likely quote-based.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The VAT People is a UK VAT and Customs Duty consultancy providing bespoke advisory services to businesses and accountancy firms. Core deliverables include VAT planning, VAT health checks, compliance reviews, HMRC investigation and dispute representation, partial exemption support, sector-specific VAT advice (property, insurance, hospices, charities), VAT training, and international trade/Brexit VAT guidance. Services are delivered by ex-HMRC inspectors and senior VAT consultants on a quote-based engagement basis, supported by a free telephone helpline for initial queries.

Product overview

The VAT People is a VAT and Customs Duty consultancy firm providing bespoke advisory services to UK businesses. The firm offers a comprehensive portfolio of VAT-related services including compliance checks, health checks, planning, training, and sector-specific advisory services covering areas such as property development, insurance, international trade, and charities. The services are delivered by a team of ex-HMRC inspectors and experienced consultants, with a free helpline available for initial queries. The firm operates primarily as a consultancy service rather than a software product, offering services across Brexit advice, dispute resolution, VAT investigations, partial exemption guidance, overseas VAT reclamation, and specialized sector advice for industries including hospices, insurance brokers, and property developers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VAT Planning for your Business Strategic planning service to help businesses understand VAT obligations, reliefs, and ensure compliance with HMRC regulations. Targeted at UK VAT-registered businesses seeking to structure their affairs efficiently.
• VAT Health Check Comprehensive review service that ensures businesses maximise VAT efficiency, identify savings opportunities, and remain compliant with regulations.
• VAT Compliance Check Review service ensuring businesses operate lawfully under VAT legislation to avoid serious repercussions from non-compliance.
• VAT Training Practical VAT training courses for business staff, delivered by ex-VAT inspectors to help organisations manage VAT liabilities effectively.
• Brexit Advice on VAT VAT consultancy helping UK businesses navigate customs regulations and VAT implications following Brexit, including guidance on international trade and cross-border transactions.
• Deregistering for VAT Assistance with cancelling VAT registration when businesses are no longer eligible or wish to voluntarily deregister.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for HMRC Specialist support for resolving disputes with HMRC regarding VAT payments through mediation and alternative dispute resolution methods.
• General VAT Queries Expert VAT advice and practical solutions for businesses facing challenging VAT-related questions and compliance issues.
• Hospices VAT Refund Scheme Specialist guidance for hospices on claiming refunds under the special VAT refund scheme, with over two decades of experience in this area.
• HMRC Assessment Reviews Expert assistance in contesting HMRC VAT assessment decisions and challenging tax authority rulings.
• HMRC VAT Investigations Expert assistance for businesses undergoing HMRC VAT investigations, providing guidance through the complex and often stressful process.
• Partial Exemption Guidance for VAT-registered businesses making both taxable and exempt supplies on how to handle input VAT recovery and avoid unnecessary costs.
• Reclaiming VAT from Overseas Assistance for businesses to recover VAT incurred on overseas expenditure in EU member states through the 13th Directive refund scheme.
• Reclaiming VAT in the UK Support for businesses across all sectors in reclaiming VAT on goods and services within the UK.
• Transactional VAT Advice Expert guidance on VAT implications for specific business transactions and commercial activities.
• Tour Operators' Margin Scheme (TOMS) VAT Specialised advice on the VAT scheme for businesses that buy and sell travel, accommodation, and related services.
• VAT on Private Tuition Guidance for tutors and education providers on VAT exemption applicability for private tuition services and VAT liability management.
• VAT Due Diligence Services Detailed review of VAT position before key business decisions, identifying historic errors, supply chain risks, and incorrect VAT treatment to prevent financial and legal consequences.
• VAT for Insurance Brokers Specialist VAT support for insurance businesses protecting against financial exposure, improving VAT recovery, and maintaining HMRC compliance.
• VAT for Residential Property and Commercial Property Development Advisory services for property developers on VAT treatment of residential and commercial developments, including new builds, refurbishment, conversions, and mixed-use projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Partial exemption review saving of £61,000
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Charity Tax GroupminorOthersThe VAT People is a member of the Charity Tax Group, an organisation that provides support and representation for charities on tax matters including VAT. This membership demonstrates the firm's commitment to the charity sector.
• VAT Practitioners Group (VPG)minorOthersThe VAT People is a member of the VAT Practitioners Group, an industry body for VAT professionals. This membership indicates adherence to industry standards and access to VAT practitioner community resources.
• HMRCcoreOthersWhile not a commercial partnership, The VAT People works extensively with HMRC through their ex-HMRC staff and client representation in assessments, investigations, and disputes. Their team of ex-HMRC inspectors provides insider understanding of HMRC procedures.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mazars UK: Mazars UK provides VAT and indirect tax advisory as part of its mid-market accounting and consulting services, including HMRC investigations and sector-specific VAT guidance. Comparable in targeting mid-market UK businesses with specialist VAT support via similar referral and direct-engagement channels.
• PKF Smith Cooper: PKF Smith Cooper is a UK mid-tier accounting and advisory firm with VAT and indirect tax expertise serving owner-managed and mid-market businesses. Comparable in targeting similar client profile (UK SMEs, charities, property developers) and providing bespoke VAT planning and HMRC representation.
• Crowe UK: Crowe UK is a top-10 UK accounting and advisory firm with a dedicated indirect tax (VAT) practice serving mid-market and enterprise clients. Directly comparable as a VAT advisory specialist competing for similar accounting firm referral relationships and complex cross-border VAT mandates.
• BDO UK: BDO UK has a well-established VAT and indirect tax practice serving mid-market and large corporate clients with complex cross-border and sector-specific VAT advice. Comparable in providing HMRC dispute support, tribunal representation, and bespoke VAT planning similar to The VAT People's offerings.
• RSM UK: RSM UK operates a sizeable indirect tax and VAT advisory practice as part of its mid-market accounting and consulting offering. Comparable in serving UK businesses with complex VAT issues, partial exemption work, and HMRC dispute representation through accountant referral networks.

Broad incumbents

• EY UK Indirect Tax: EY UK's Indirect Tax team delivers VAT and customs advisory to large corporates, particularly on cross-border transactions and post-Brexit compliance. Comparable in serving complex VAT needs of UK companies, though at significantly larger engagement scale and broader geographic reach than The VAT People.
• KPMG UK Indirect Tax: KPMG UK's Indirect Tax practice serves large enterprise and multinational clients with VAT advisory across all major verticals. Comparable offering for complex VAT, customs, and cross-border mandates but at a much larger scale and price point than The VAT People, often competing for the same enterprise mandates.
• Deloitte UK Indirect Tax: Deloitte UK's indirect tax practice serves enterprise clients with comprehensive VAT, customs, and international trade advisory. Comparable in handling tribunal-grade VAT disputes and sector-specific VAT recovery work but operating at much larger scale, with multinational corporate focus rather than SME/mid-market.

Emerging players

• Ryan UK (now Ryan, formerly Ryan Tax): Ryan is a global specialist tax advisory firm with a UK indirect tax (VAT) recovery and compliance practice. Comparable in offering dedicated VAT recovery, compliance reviews, and HMRC dispute support with a specialist (non-Big 4) positioning similar to The VAT People, though at larger international scale.
• Ayming UK: Ayming is a specialist tax advisory and incentives consultancy operating in the UK with VAT recovery and indirect tax services for mid-market and enterprise clients. Comparable niche focus on VAT recovery and optimisation, though with a broader incentives and innovation tax credit portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/the_vat_people
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheVATPeople
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-vat-people

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The VAT People