Your store is charging the wrong VAT. Every order.
Wrong VAT on every transaction isn't just a configuration problem — it's a compliance problem. Overcharging loses customers. Undercharging means you owe HMRC the difference. We fix the setup and get it right.
This is a legal issue, not just a technical one. If your store has been undercharging VAT, you're still liable to pay HMRC the correct amount — even if you didn't collect it. The sooner it's fixed, the smaller the exposure.
- Full WooCommerce tax configuration audit
- UK VAT rates correctly applied per product class
- EU / international tax rules configured
- B2B VAT exemption setup (VAT number validation)
- Tax display settings — inc/exc VAT corrected
- Written configuration summary provided
No fix? You pay nothing.
Wrong VAT isn't just bad UX — it's a legal liability
Most WooCommerce VAT problems look like a configuration annoyance. In practice, they create real legal and financial exposure.
The two types of VAT problem
WooCommerce VAT errors almost always fall into one of two categories — and each has very different consequences.
Charging VAT on zero-rated or exempt goods
WooCommerce applies 20% VAT to products that should be zero-rated or exempt. Common with children's clothing, food items, books, disability aids, and certain services. Customers are paying more than they should — which damages conversion and trust.
Not charging VAT on standard-rated goods
WooCommerce applies 0% or no tax to products that should carry 20% VAT. Often caused by a misconfigured tax class, a plugin setting applied in error, or a migration from a platform with different tax defaults. The store appears cheaper — but you owe HMRC the difference on every order.
Charging UK VAT to overseas customers
Post-Brexit, UK VAT rules for EU and international customers changed significantly. Many WooCommerce stores are still applying UK VAT to EU orders where local destination VAT or zero-rating should apply. This creates compliance exposure in both the UK and EU.
VAT not removed for verified business customers
B2B customers who provide a valid VAT number should have VAT removed from their orders (reverse charge mechanism). WooCommerce doesn't handle this out of the box — it requires correct configuration or a plugin. Many stores simply never set it up.
The three UK VAT rates — and where they apply
WooCommerce needs to apply the correct rate to every product class. Getting this wrong is the root of most VAT problems.
How we audit and fix your tax setup
VAT configuration in WooCommerce has many layers — tax classes, product assignments, display settings, location rules, and plugin interactions. We check all of them.
Full tax configuration audit
We review your WooCommerce tax settings, product tax class assignments, shipping tax settings, and any tax plugins. We map what your store is actually charging against what it should be charging.
⏱ Same dayWe fix every layer
Tax rates, tax classes, product assignments, display settings (inc/exc VAT), location rules for EU and international orders, and B2B exemption configuration — we correct the full setup, not just the visible symptom.
⏱ Same sessionTest orders and written summary
We run test orders across your product types and customer locations to verify VAT is applied correctly in every scenario. You receive a written summary of every change made — useful for your accountant.
⏱ Confirmed before we closeChildren's clothing store charging 20% VAT for 8 months
A UK children's clothing retailer came to us after a customer queried why they were being charged VAT. Children's clothing is zero-rated in the UK. Their WooCommerce store had been charging 20% on every order since launch — eight months earlier.
The developer who set up the store had enabled tax but only configured the standard 20% rate. No zero-rate class was created. Every product defaulted to standard rate. We created the correct tax classes, reassigned all products, and verified the configuration across multiple checkout scenarios. We also provided a report for their accountant summarising the period affected.
"We had no idea our products were being charged VAT at all. The fix was done the same day and we got a clear summary for our accountant explaining everything that had been wrong."
— Children's clothing retailer, UKWhat's covered — and what isn't
We fix WooCommerce VAT configuration. Here's exactly what that includes.
We fix these Covered
- ✓ Incorrect tax class assignments across all products
- ✓ Missing zero-rate and reduced-rate tax classes
- ✓ Tax display settings — prices shown inc. or exc. VAT
- ✓ Shipping VAT rates incorrectly configured
- ✓ EU customer tax rules post-Brexit
- ✓ B2B VAT exemption — VAT number validation setup
- ✓ Tax not appearing on WooCommerce invoices
- ✓ Tax plugin conflicts (WooCommerce Tax, Avalara, TaxJar)
- ✓ VAT misconfiguration after platform migration
Outside our scope Not covered
- ✕ Tax accounting advice — speak to your accountant
- ✕ Calculating retrospective VAT liability — accountant required
- ✕ VAT registration or HMRC correspondence
- ✕ OSS registration for EU VAT (One Stop Shop)
- ✕ Custom tax integrations with no documentation
We fix the WooCommerce configuration. Your accountant handles the tax liability. Not sure which is which? Ask us first — no charge.
No fix, no fee. Full stop.
If we can't correct your WooCommerce VAT configuration, you pay nothing. We'll explain exactly what we found and what would be needed to fix it properly.
- No payment taken upfront — invoiced only on successful fix
- Written summary of every change — useful for your accountant
- 30 days follow-up cover included with every fix
- Same fault recurs within 30 days — we fix it again, free
Flat rates. No hourly surprises.
VAT configuration is priced slightly higher than our other fixes — it requires a full audit across every product, tax class, and location rule. All prices exclude VAT.
- Full tax configuration audit
- UK VAT rates corrected
- Product tax class reassignment
- Test orders verified
- Written change summary
- Everything in Standard
- Same-day response & fix
- EU / international rules included
- B2B VAT exemption setup
- Accountant-ready change report
- Quarterly tax config health check
- Alerts on WooCommerce tax plugin updates
- EU VAT rule change monitoring
- Priority response on any issue
- Unlimited fixes during plan