Blog>Trade>Do Checkatrade charge VAT?
Last updated: 2 January 2025
Do Checkatrade charge VAT?
Whether you’re a sole trader or run a limited company, it pays to be efficient with your business costs. As such, we’ll talk you through the Checkatrade VAT charging and how you can factor it into your business costs as an expense.
In this article you'll find:
We often get asked, “do Checkatrade charge VAT?”. And the simple answer is yes. But the good news is, you could be claiming back that cost.
In this guide, you’ll learn about Checkatrade VAT, claiming business expenses, and the benefits of our membership.
Is VAT included in Checkatrade membership pricing?
All Checkatrade membership packages are charged along with value added tax. As a result, you’ll often see the price advertised with “+VAT”.
That means we’ll charge you VAT on top of the quoted price. However, if your trade business is VAT-registered, you can them claim back that cost.
Learn more about our pricing and joining Checkatrade
Can I claim my Checkatrade membership as a business expense?
Yes, you can indeed – as long as you use your Checkatrade membership solely for business purposes.
How it works…
Your Checkatrade membership is directly related to marketing your business so it qualifies as an allowable expense
You can deduct the total cost of your membership from your taxable income when calculating your profits
If you’re VAT registered, you can also claim back the VAT portion of your Checkatrade membership fee as part of your VAT return
Make sure you keep a record of your invoices from Checkatrade in case HMRC requires further evidence of the expense
Include this expense in your business accounts as a marketing or advertising cost
By claiming your Checkatrade membership fee as a marketing expense, your tax savings will effectively reduce the cost of your membership.
Want to know more about claiming business expenses? Check out our guide below:
How to claim expenses for your trade business
Working out your expenses is probably a main contender for the least favourite work task. But having an efficient small business tracking process ensures you deduct the right expenses from your taxable profit. Keeping on top of limited company expenses reduces taxable profit and helps businesses to
Checkatrade VAT requirements
Here are the key VAT requirements and guidelines that apply to all our members:
VAT registration in the UK
It's important to understand if, or when, you need to register your business for VAT. Here are the main rules:
In the UK, you’re legally required to register for VAT if your business turnover exceeds the current VAT registration threshold (£85,000 in 2024)
Once you’re VAT-registered, you must charge VAT (currently at 20%) on all your services and submit regular VAT returns
You can voluntarily register for VAT at any point, even if your turnover is below the current threshold
Given that VAT is such an important subject for trade businesses, read our complete guide to VAT below:
Everything to know about VAT for trade businesses
The decision to become VAT registered or not is a key consideration for every business. In order to run a successful company, you’ll need to know your responsibilities when it comes to paying and charging VAT. Read on for our complete guide to VAT for tradespeople. Understanding VAT for trade
Checkatrade membership fees and VAT
At Checkatrade, we're a VAT-registered business and, as such, we have to charge VAT on our membership fees.
As mentioned above, if you’re VAT-registered then you can claim the VAT back as part of your VAT return.
Invoicing your customers
If you’re VAT-registered, all your invoices to customers must comply with relevant VAT invoicing rules.
That includes clearly showing your VAT registration number and the VAT amount on the invoice
We also recommend mentioning your VAT status on your Checkatrade profile, so that customers are aware that VAT will be added to their quotes or invoices.
What to include on an invoice
What to include on a small business invoice If you're just starting out, you're probably wondering how to write an invoice. Invoicing accurately is a key part of every successful trade business. Not only does it help ensure you get paid on time for your work, but it's also an opportunity to
Benefits of a Checkatrade membership
Becoming a Checkatrade member comes with a whole host of benefits for you and your trade business...
Build the right membership plan for your business
We want you to be confident that your Checkatrade membership is right for you and your business.
Our fixed term membership plans give you an easier way to help manage marketing spend for a set volume of leads.
That way, you’re in control. Find out how you can make your membership work for you in our guide below:
Make your Checkatrade membership work for your business
Make your membership work for you Checkatrade is designed for customers to find quality tradespeople. So as a tradesperson yourself, you can rest assured that there is more to our membership than you might think. Need more leads? As a Checkatrade member, you have
Connect with customers with our Trades App
It’s now easier than ever to be in touch with customers, see your member benefits, and manage your jobs using our Checkatrade for Trades App:
Manage your leads and existing customers
Connect with people using our direct messaging feature
Provide your availability to customers - setting your free time makes arranging home visits and start dates that bit easier
Share quotes with customers for them to easily view and accept
Easily turn quotes into invoices once the job is done
Stay on top of your jobs with notifications
Want to know more? Check out our guide on how our Trades App can help make running your business easier.
Exclusive offers and discounts
As a Checkatrade member, you get access to exclusive offers and discounts from our partners on business essentials.
Join today and start saving money on tools, vans, fuel, workwear, insurance and more.
See our latest member benefits
Already a member? Log in to our members' app now to see what offers are currently available!
Our members get more for their money
Save money on business essentials with your Checkatrade membership
Boost your online presence with your own Checkatrade webpage
When you sign up to Checkatrade, you’ll get a dedicated Checkatrade profile online:
Be seen by customers with a business profile on the UK’s leading trade directory
Introduce your business, list your expertise & skills
Showcase your work with photos
Invite customers to leave reviews and score your service
Get an online listing on Google
Access more leads – our website has just under 2 million web visitors every month*
And it’s not just about having an online presence. With the trusted Checkatrade tick by your name, it makes your marketing that bit easier.
Does Checkatrade membership pay for itself?
Obviously, we think a Checkatrade membership is worth the money you pay. But, don’t just take our word for it.
See what our members have to say about the return on investment of their Checkatrade membership:
Is a Checkatrade membership worth it?
One way to figure out whether the cost of something is worth it is to look at ROI (Return on Investment). In its most basic sense, this is how much something costs compared with the income it generates. Working out the ROI of a Checkatrade membership is definitely a must-do for any trade business
Your customers trust our tick of approval
Find more work in your local area as a Checkatrade member
* Internal search data from users of the Checkatrade.com website in 2024