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Quizzes > Business & Finance

VAT Quiz: Test Your Compliance Knowledge

Quick, free VAT test with instant results. Spot reporting gaps fast.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Edgar TorraoUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting a fun quiz about VAT Compliance

Use this VAT compliance quiz to check how you apply VAT rules on rates, invoices, thresholds, and returns. Answer 15 quick questions, get instant feedback, and see where to improve before your next filing. To broaden your skills, try the tax knowledge assessment, the tax preparation knowledge test, or the accounting knowledge check.

What is the standard VAT rate in many jurisdictions such as the UK?
5%
20%
25%
10%
The standard VAT rate in the UK and many similar systems is 20%. Reduced or zero rates apply to specific categories but the general rate for goods and services is 20%.
If a product has a net price of 100 and the VAT rate is 20%, what is the VAT amount?
£15
£22
£20
£25
VAT amount is calculated as net price multiplied by the VAT rate (100 Ã- 20% = 20). This yields a VAT due of £20 on a net price of £100. The other options do not match this formula.
What is the UK VAT registration threshold for taxable turnover?
£150,000
£100,000
£50,000
£85,000
In the UK, a business must register for VAT once its taxable turnover exceeds £85,000 in a 12-month period. This threshold triggers the obligation to account for VAT to HMRC. Below this level, registration remains optional.
Which of the following supplies is typically exempt from VAT?
Standard-rated restaurant meals
Exports to non-EU countries
Health services provided by registered professionals
Children's clothing
Health services by registered medical professionals are usually exempt from VAT. Exports are zero-rated but not exempt, while restaurant meals are standard-rated and children's clothing is zero-rated in some jurisdictions.
What does the term 'output tax' refer to?
VAT a business incurs on its purchases
VAT a business withholds on employee wages
VAT paid by customers directly to HMRC
VAT charged by a business on its sales
Output tax is the VAT that a business charges its customers on taxable sales. Input tax, by contrast, is VAT paid on purchases. The difference between output and input tax determines net VAT payable.
Under the reverse charge mechanism in B2B cross-border EU supplies, who accounts for the VAT?
The supplier in the supplier's country
The supplier's home VAT authority
The EU customs authority
The customer in the customer's country
The reverse charge mechanism shifts the responsibility to account for VAT to the customer in their own country. This avoids the supplier having to register in the customer's jurisdiction. The customer both declares and recovers the VAT.
Which condition allows an intra-community supply of goods to be zero-rated?
Goods shipped within the same country
Buyer is a VAT-registered business in another EU member state
Goods sold to private consumers in another EU state
Goods exported outside the EU
An intra-community supply to a VAT-registered business in another EU member state can be zero-rated when the buyer's valid VAT number is provided. Private consumer sales do not qualify for zero-rating under this rule.
How should a business correct a small error in its previously submitted VAT return?
Wait until year-end and adjust annual summary
Notify HMRC in writing every time
Amend the figures in the next VAT return
Submit a brand-new standalone return
Small errors (usually under a de minimis threshold) can be corrected by adjusting the next VAT return rather than notifying HMRC separately. This simplifies compliance for minor discrepancies. Large errors require a formal disclosure.
Which condition must be met for a business to reclaim input tax on purchases?
Goods or services used for taxable business activities
Paying suppliers by credit card
Registering for VAT before purchase
Purchasing from a non-VAT-registered seller
Input tax can only be reclaimed when goods or services are used in making taxable supplies. Personal or exempt use disqualifies the full deduction. The business must also hold valid VAT invoices.
What is the initial penalty surcharge rate for a late VAT payment in the UK?
10% of the unpaid VAT
15% of the unpaid VAT
5% of the unpaid VAT
2% of the unpaid VAT
The initial surcharge for a late VAT payment is 2% of the unpaid amount if the VAT remains outstanding after the grace period. Higher penalties apply for repeated defaults. Prompt payment avoids the surcharge.
Which of these must legally appear on a VAT invoice?
Customer's VAT registration number
Supplier's VAT registration number
Supplier's bank account number
Supplier's telephone number
A valid VAT invoice must include the supplier's VAT registration number to support the input tax recovery by the buyer. Other details like bank account or phone number are not mandatory. Accurate invoicing is key for compliance.
A business has £10,000 of input VAT and £2,000 of exempt input VAT. What percentage of its input VAT can it recover?
70%
20%
90%
80%
The recovery rate is calculated as (total input VAT minus exempt input VAT) divided by total input VAT (10,000 - 2,000)/10,000 = 80%. This pro-rata method applies when inputs relate to both taxable and exempt activities.
Where is the place of supply for digital services sold to non-VAT-registered consumers in the EU?
Where the supplier is established
Where the customer resides
At the supplier's postal address
Where the supplier's head office is
For digital B2C services in the EU, the place of supply is where the customer resides. This ensures VAT is charged at the rate applicable in the consumer's member state. MOSS simplifies reporting across multiple jurisdictions.
When is import VAT typically payable on goods brought into the UK from outside the EU?
At the next quarter filing
Upon customs clearance
At annual VAT return
Within 30 days of invoice date
Import VAT is due at the time of customs clearance on goods entering the UK. This VAT may be deferred under certain arrangements but is generally payable before release. It is calculated on the goods' customs value.
Under the VAT cash accounting scheme, when is VAT on sales accounted for?
At the end of the accounting year
On invoice issuance date
On the filing due date
When payment is received from the customer
In cash accounting, VAT on sales is reported when the business actually receives payment rather than when the invoice is issued. This helps cash-flow management, as output VAT is only due once cash is collected.
A cleaning company supplies both the cleaning service and cleaning materials for a single fee. How should VAT be applied?
Apply reduced rate to materials and zero rate to service
Charge zero rate because materials are incidental
Split the invoice and apply different rates to each line
Apply the principal supply rule and standard-rate the entire fee
When supplies are bundled and the service is the principal element, the entire composite supply is taxed at the service's standard rate. The cleaning materials are incidental to the main service. This is known as the principal supply rule.
Which business must register for the EU non-Union Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS)?
Non-EU business selling goods via an EU warehouse
UK B2B software sales to EU businesses
Non-EU supplier of digital services to EU consumers
EU-based supplier of physical goods to EU consumers
Non-EU suppliers of digital services to EU consumers must use non-Union MOSS to simplify VAT registration and reporting across member states. Business-to-business supplies are outside the MOSS scope. Physical goods are handled under different regimes.
After how many months of non-payment can a supplier claim bad debt relief on unpaid VAT in the UK?
12 months after supply
6 months after invoice due date
24 months after supply
3 months after invoice date
In the UK, bad debt relief can be claimed once an invoice remains unpaid for six months from the due date. This allows the supplier to recover VAT previously passed on to the tax authority. There is a longer period for longer credit terms.
A zero-rated export sale was incorrectly recorded as an exempt supply on the VAT return. What is the immediate effect?
No change to VAT payable but reporting categories are wrong
Input tax reclaim is disallowed
Output VAT payable is understated
Sales turnover is overstated
Both zero-rated and exempt supplies result in zero VAT due, so the VAT payable remains unaffected. However, the supplies will be reported on incorrect return lines, requiring reclassification to meet reporting rules.
A company car is used 60% for business and 40% for private use. What percentage of the input VAT on its purchase can the business reclaim?
0%
100%
60%
40%
Input VAT recovery must reflect actual business use. With 60% business use, the company can reclaim 60% of the VAT paid on the purchase of the car. The private element is excluded from recovery.
0
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse VAT calculation scenarios to determine correct rates
  2. Identify key compliance requirements for VAT transactions
  3. Apply VAT reporting rules to sample filings
  4. Evaluate common VAT errors and propose corrections
  5. Demonstrate understanding of registration thresholds and obligations

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master the two VAT calculation methods - VAT can feel like a puzzle, but it's really just two options: the Invoice Method (subtract VAT on purchases from VAT on sales) or the Addition Method (tack VAT onto every value add). Pick your own adventure based on your business style and watch the numbers come alive!
  2. Calculate VAT step by step - Crunching numbers is easy when you break it down: multiply the net price by the VAT rate to get the VAT amount, then add it to the net price for your gross total. For example, €100 at 20% VAT becomes €120 - it's simple math magic!
  3. Keep airtight VAT records - Think of your invoices and receipts as your VAT time machine: they transport you back up to six years if the tax officer knocks on your door. Maintain clear logs, digital backups, and organized ledgers so audits feel more like a stroll than a sprint.
  4. Know your VAT registration thresholds - Each country sets a magic number for turnover: cross it, and VAT registration is mandatory. Track your sales like a hawk and set alerts so you never get surprised by an unexpected tax night raid!
  5. Differentiate input VAT vs output VAT - Input VAT is the tax you pay when you buy stock, while output VAT is what you collect when you sell. The difference between the two tells you what you owe (or what you get back) when filing your VAT return.
  6. Apply the right VAT rates - From standard and reduced rates to zero-rated icons (like food and exports), every item has its own VAT tag. Mix them up, and your ledger could become a tax disaster - keep a rates list handy to stay on point.
  7. Master the VAT return filing process - Summarize your total VAT collected, subtract the VAT you've paid, and submit the balance to the tax authority before your deadline. Treat filing like a pizza recipe: mix all the ingredients, bake (submit), and enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.
  8. Avoid common VAT pitfalls - Misapplying rates or forgetting to register are like stepping on banana peels in the tax dance floor - one slip can cost you fines and interest. Read up on frequent mistakes and stay two steps ahead of compliance boogie.
  9. Grasp VAT-exempt vs zero-rated goods - Exempt items mean no VAT to charge and no VAT to reclaim; zero-rated means you charge 0% VAT but can still reclaim input VAT. Knowing the difference can save you a fortune and prevent accounting headaches.
  10. Pay VAT on time to dodge penalties - Late VAT payments come with penalties and interest that can turn a small delay into a big headache. Set calendar alerts, automate payments, and keep your compliance record spotless.
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