Turnover dropped, or you’re closing the business — here’s the actual process, deadlines, and what you owe on the way out.
Last updated: June 2026
You can apply to cancel your VAT registration if your turnover is genuinely expected to stay below the relevant threshold going forward, if you’re ceasing to trade entirely, or if you were only ever registered for a specific reason that no longer applies.
Cancellation is normally requested through Revenue Online Service (ROS) or via your tax agent. You’ll need to specify your effective cancellation date and reason. You must file one final VAT return covering the period up to cancellation, and you may need to account for VAT on business assets you still hold if you claimed input VAT on them when purchased.
Yes — deregistering isn’t permanent. If your turnover picks back up and crosses the threshold again, or you want to re-register voluntarily, you go through the normal registration process again.
No, deregistration is optional in this scenario — you can remain registered if it still benefits you, such as reclaiming input VAT or dealing mainly with VAT-registered customers.
If you claimed input VAT on business assets you still hold, you may need to account for VAT on their value at deregistration, similar to a deemed disposal.
Revenue typically processes online deregistration requests within a few weeks, with confirmation provided through ROS.
If your final return shows you’ve overpaid, Revenue will refund the difference in the normal way, the same as any other VAT return.
Often yes, though it’s worth confirming with Revenue at the time, since specific circumstances can affect this.
Enter your revenue and get a plain-English answer in seconds.
Check my VAT status →