Rolling 12 month VAT threshold explained
UK VAT registration is not checked only at the end of a tax year. You need to watch your rolling 12-month taxable turnover, which can cross the threshold during the year.
What rolling 12 months means
A rolling 12-month check looks backwards from now across the previous 12 months. Each month, the window moves forward. That is why a freelancer can be under the threshold for one tax year but still need to review VAT registration during the following months.
This is also why spreadsheet exports are useful for early warning: they help you quickly check whether recent income is close enough to the threshold to deserve proper review.
Check your bank-income estimate
The feltPro VAT checker reads a Monzo or Starling Excel or CSV export in your browser, totals positive incoming transactions in the rolling 12-month period, and lets you exclude transfers, refunds, loans, or personal payments.
Open the VAT checkerWhen this estimate is useful
- Early warning from one bank export
- Rough monthly checks for freelancers with changing income
- Spotting transactions that need accountant review
When it is not enough
VAT registration is based on taxable turnover, not raw bank income. Transfers, refunds, loans, personal payments, exempt income, and missing accounts can make a bank-income estimate wrong. Use GOV.UK guidance or speak to an accountant before making a registration decision.