Credit reference agencies and other qualifying applicants can now apply for VAT registration data for use in making financial assessments.

A UK-based credit reference agency or similar financial organisation can apply for authorisation to get non-financial VAT registration data for the purpose of:

• credit scoring
• anti-fraud checking
• compliance with other financial regulations

It may help small businesses and new start-ups gain access to credit and finance for the first time and give increased access to credit and finance to established VAT-registered businesses.

The data file will cover all VAT-registered businesses, not individual businesses or grouped by trade sector or geographical location.

In addition to the VAT registration number and available contact information, the data for each registered business includes the:

• effective date of registration
• overseas trader indicator
• group or divisional registration indicator
• organisational name
• trading name and trading style
• standard industrial classification code (trade class)
• legal entity status
• company number and incorporation date

Where applicable, this will also include the date of:

• deregistration
• transfer of a going concern

No financial or payment data is included.

The file shared will be updated weekly to ensure it is accurate.

HMRC will only share non-financial VAT registration data with you if your business has a genuine need to use it for the purposes set out in section 8(1) of the Small Business Enterprise and Employment Act (SBEEA) 2015.

How to apply

An interest may be registered by applying to receive VAT registration data by emailing: vat.datasharing@hmrc.gov.uk, quoting ‘VAT Data Sharing’ in the subject line.