Deregistering from VAT, will I need to pay back reclaimed VAT on purchase?

Hi! I voluntarily registered for VAT in April when I started my business as I knew that I had a lot of purchases to make that I wanted to reclaim the VAT on. I now don't have any further large purchases to make and I fall well under the VAT threshold. I am continuing my business but my question is, if I deregister from VAT now will I then have to pay back the VAT I reclaimed? For example. I bought a van that I use and will continue to use for my business. I paid £13,000 inc VAT and reclaimed the £2000 VAT. If I deregister now will I be forced to repay that £2000 to HMRC? Many thanks for any advice! Marcus.

Hi Marcus Carter,

If you have claimed input tax on goods and you have these goods on hand when you deregister then you will need to do a stock take of these goods and account for the VAT on your final VAT return.
Please see the guidance below:
VAT Notice 700/11: cancelling your registration

Thank you.