This page shows the real VAT Flat Rate Scheme percentage for Lawyer or legal services — 14.5% for the 2025/26 tax year (13.5% in your first year of VAT registration). The calculator above is pre-set to this category — enter your sales to see the VAT you’d pay HMRC and how it compares to standard VAT accounting.
The flat rate for lawyer or legal services
| Rate | |
|---|---|
| HMRC flat-rate category | Lawyer or legal services |
| Flat rate (2025/26) | 14.5% |
| First year of VAT registration (1% discount) | 13.5% |
| Limited cost business rate (if it applies) | 16.5% |
Under the Flat Rate Scheme you still charge your customers the normal 20% VAT, but you pay HMRC a flat 14.5% of your VAT-inclusive (gross) turnover and — apart from capital assets over £2,000 — you do not reclaim input VAT on purchases. You keep the difference.
What you’d pay at different turnovers
Assuming all sales are standard-rated (20% VAT) and you’d reclaim roughly 1% of net sales as input VAT under standard accounting:
| Net (ex-VAT) annual sales | VAT charged to customers (20%) | VAT-inclusive turnover | Flat-rate VAT to HMRC | Standard-accounting VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £50,000 | £10,000 | £60,000 | £8,700 | £9,500 |
| £85,000 | £17,000 | £102,000 | £14,790 | £16,150 |
| £120,000 | £24,000 | £144,000 | £20,880 | £22,800 |
On £85,000 of net sales, the Flat Rate Scheme saves you £1,360 a year versus standard VAT accounting on these example figures. Your real input VAT — especially if you buy a lot of goods — changes this, so use the calculator with your own numbers.
Is the Flat Rate Scheme worth it for lawyer or legal services?
The flat rate helps most when you have low input VAT (few VATable purchases) — the gap between the 20% you charge and the 14.5% you pay HMRC stays in the business. If you buy a lot of standard-rated goods or services, standard accounting (reclaiming that input VAT) can beat the flat rate. Watch the limited cost business rule: if your goods spend is under 2% of VAT-inclusive turnover (or under £1,000 a year) you must use the 16.5% rate regardless of category — tick that box in the calculator to test it.
Eligibility and limits
- Join: VAT taxable turnover £150,000 or less (excluding VAT) expected in the next 12 months, and you must be VAT-registered.
- Leave: you must leave once your total income for the year is more than £230,000.
- First year: a 1% discount on the flat rate for your first year as a VAT-registered business.
- Registration threshold (context): you must register for VAT once taxable turnover passes £90,000 in any 12 months (threshold effective 2024-04-01).
UK VAT rates (for reference)
| Rate | Percentage | Applies to (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 20% | Most goods and services |
| Reduced | 5% | Domestic fuel and power, children’s car seats |
| Zero | 0% | Most food, books, children’s clothes |
Assumptions
This is a planning estimate. It assumes all your sales are standard-rated at 20%, and the comparison uses an illustrative input-VAT figure of about 1% of net sales — your real input VAT may be very different. It does not handle mixed-rate sales, the EU, second-hand margin schemes, or capital-asset reclaims. Your accountant and HMRC are the authority.
Sources & as-of
- VAT Flat Rate Scheme category percentages, 1% first-year discount, 16.5% limited cost rate: GOV.UK — VAT Flat Rate Scheme: work out your flat rate.
- £150,000 join limit, £230,000 leave limit, limited cost business definition: GOV.UK — VAT Flat Rate Scheme overview and VAT Notice 733.
- Standard/reduced/zero VAT rates: GOV.UK — VAT rates.
- £90,000 registration threshold: GOV.UK — Register for VAT.
- Tax year 2025/26. Page data as-of 2026-06-18. Rates can change at fiscal events — confirm current figures on GOV.UK.