Can I have two businesses to avoid VAT?

Asked by: Gussie Turcotte V  |  Last update: July 21, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (65 votes)

It is possible to own two separate businesses to keep them below the £85,000 VAT registration threshold, but they must be genuinely independent. Artificially splitting a business—known as "disaggregation"—to avoid VAT is illegal. HMRC will treat them as one if there are strong financial, economic, and organizational links.

Can I have two businesses, one VAT registered and one not?

Each separate operation must stand alone as a self contained unit. Some business owners consider reorganising their operations into two entities to avoid registering every single one for VAT. This requires careful planning and precise execution to not only comply with the rules but also avoid fines.

How to avoid paying VAT twice?

How to avoid a double payment of VAT? To avoid the UK customer paying the VAT twice when the consignment has a value of more than GBP 135, the solution that seems most obvious is simply not to charge VAT at the time of sale and let the carrier charge the VAT to the customer at the time of delivery.

Can I have two separate businesses?

Yes, you are allowed to own more than one limited company and again, this can bring many benefits to your life, including financial success and entrepreneurial credibility. You can either set up a separate limited company for each business, or you could operate them under one limited company, and use trading names.

What is the best way to legally structure multiple businesses?

Create individual corporations or LLCs for each business. Put businesses operating with registered fictitious business names (DBAs) under one corporation or LLC. Creating a holding company for multiple businesses.

Two Businesses to Avoid VAT? HMRC Rules, Risks & Reality Explained | Pro Tax Accountant (PTA)

35 related questions found

Can I run two different businesses under one LLC?

Yes, you can absolutely run multiple businesses under a single LLC to save on costs and simplify administration, often by using DBAs (Doing Business As) for different brand names, but you must understand the trade-off: all businesses share the same liability, meaning a lawsuit against one can impact the others, making a separate LLC for each high-risk venture often recommended. 

What is the 6 month rule in business?

Simply put, if the decision were to go south, could your business afford to 'burn' cash for six months without going under? This is a critical safety net that protects your business's longevity. It's about acknowledging that not every investment will yield immediate returns and preparing for that reality.

How do I file taxes if I have two businesses?

If you have multiple unrelated businesses organized as Sole proprietorships, you generally should prepare separate Schedule C forms for each to report your business income or losses. Separate Schedule C forms are typically filed for each spouse that has their own business as well.

Is it better to have multiple LLCs or DBAs?

Multiple Business Lines

While a DBA would be simpler and less expensive, keeping high-risk services like property management under the same liability umbrella as cleaning services could jeopardize both operations if legal issues arise. In this case, forming a separate LLC might better protect each business line.

What is a layered LLC?

A layered LLC structure, or business entity layering, uses multiple Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) in a hierarchy to separate assets and risks, creating strong legal barriers for asset protection and privacy, like putting different properties or business functions into separate LLCs owned by a parent LLC to shield them from lawsuits or liabilities of another part of the business. It's a sophisticated strategy for real estate investors and entrepreneurs to contain liabilities, protect investments, and manage different business units distinctly, often involving a holding company owning subsidiary LLCs.
 

How to get less 12% VAT?

For prices including VAT

If you want the price without VAT, divide by 1.12.

Can Americans get VAT tax back?

Some countries won't refund after the fact, so check with the Foreign Embassies & Consulates office of the country you visited. Also. the United States does not participate in the VAT tax refund, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are not mandated to stamp VAT tax forms.

How to avoid VAT fees?

If the store ships your purchase to your home, you won't be charged the value-added tax. But shipping fees and US duty can be pricey enough to wipe out most of what you'd save. Compare shipping costs to your potential VAT refund — it may be cheaper to carry the items home with you.

How to avoid going VAT registered?

Disaggregation is when business owners seek to avoid charging VAT by splitting their business into different parts to ensure each operates under the VAT registration threshold. For a limited company, some business owners may look to establish separate companies. A sole trader may seek to establish separate trades.

What business ownership avoids double taxation?

Shareholders of S corporations report the flow-through of income and losses on their personal tax returns and are assessed tax at their individual income tax rates. This allows S corporations to avoid double taxation on the corporate income.

Can two businesses have the same tax ID?

If you have multiple businesses and they are not established as legally separate entities, you can use the same EIN for all of them, even if they have different trade names or “DBA” names. The IRS, which issues EINs, is a federal body, and trade and DBA names are a state matter.

Can I run two businesses under one LLC?

Yes, you can absolutely run multiple businesses under a single LLC to save on costs and simplify administration, often by using DBAs (Doing Business As) for different brand names, but you must understand the trade-off: all businesses share the same liability, meaning a lawsuit against one can impact the others, making a separate LLC for each high-risk venture often recommended. 

What is an umbrella LLC?

An umbrella LLC is another word for a holding company. An umbrella LLC owns other LLCs that are below it, known as subsidiaries. It effectively shelters those LLCs from cross liability in the event that future litigation results in a judgment creditor trying to collect against assets of a company.

Can I use the same EIN for multiple DBAs?

A sole proprietor can have multiple DBAs for unrelated businesses under the umbrella of a single taxpayer identification number (TIN) or EIN.

What are the biggest tax mistakes people make?

The biggest tax mistakes people make include filing late, math errors, incorrect personal info (like Social Security numbers), forgetting deductions/credits (like EITC), misreporting income, not signing forms, and making errors with bank details for direct deposit, all leading to delays, penalties, or missed savings, with using tax software or professionals helping avoid these common pitfalls.

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