Goods and Services Tax (GST) for businesses

​Goods and Services Tax (GST)

GST is a tax that registered businesses add to the price of their goods or services. The standard rate of GST is 5%.

Customers pay this tax directly to businesses who collect it and pay it to Government to help fund public services.

Benefits of being registered for GST

You can:

• claim refunds for GST paid on your business purchases, expenses and imports. For example, goods or materials
  
• apply for approved trader status, to allow goods imported from the UK to be cleared through customs more quickly
  

How GST works for businesses

Customs approved traders

Who must register  

Mandatory registration: Businesses with predicted turnover of £300,000 or more 

If your business has or expects a turnover of £300,000 or more in a 12-month period and the goods and services you provide are taxable supplies then you must register for GST. Almost all goods and services provided in Jersey (including imports) are taxable supplies.

Taxable supply means a supply other than an exempt supply. Find more information about taxable and exempt supplies on GST taxed on goods and services or in schedules 5 and 6 of the of the Goods and Services Tax (Jersey) Law 2007.

If some or all of the goods and services supplied by your business are zero-rated you can apply to be exempted from registering for GST. To request an exemption email Domestic GST enquiries or call +44 (0) 1534 440555.

When a business must register for GST

GST for organisations

If your taxable turnover is less than £300,000 in a 12-month period, you can choose to register for GST voluntarily.  

Before you apply for voluntary registration, you should carefully consider the following:  

• whether adding 5% GST on to the price of your goods and services will be acceptable to your customers 
• the amount of GST you will pay on business purchases, expenses and imports (GST registered businesses can claim back the GST they have paid on these) 
• GST registered businesses can immediately apply for approved trader status to allow goods imported from the UK to be cleared through Customs more quickly. Non GST registered businesses must build up a positive track record of paying GST on their imports before they can apply for this status
  
• once registered, you are required to submit quarterly GST returns and you will be audited regularly by Revenue Jersey to ensure the information declared in the returns is correct 

Register your business for GST 

You can register for GST online. You'll need your business's income tax reference number. If you're a: 

• sole trader, use your personal tax reference number
  
• newly incorporated company, use the corporate tax reference number you've received at your registered office address. If you've not received this, email Domestic GST enquiries to request one
  
• partnership and do not have a partnership tax reference number, email Domestic GST enquiries to request one
  

How to register your business for GST

Once your business is registered 

When you've registered for GST, you must: 

• account for GST on all supplies carried out by your business following GST law and regulations. This includes charging 5% GST to your customers on all standard-rated goods and services. Find out more on how GST works for businesses
  
• complete your GST return by the final day of the month following the end of the quarter (for example 30 April for the period from January to March)
• pay GST due on your returns (the form will confirm the amount)
• keep records of all transactions. For guidance see keeping records and accounts for GST

Industry specific GST advice and rules

You should also check out industry specific GST advice.

Cancelling your GST registration 

You can cancel your registration however you'll need to meet certain criteria.

Cancelling your business registration for GST