I doubt that getting a VAT number gives you an advantage in that scenario (assuming that getting a VAT number is not mandatory but optional).
Taking my theory developed in my earlier post into account, you would be in the same position as a bank that purchases special computer equipment so it can offer exempt payment services.
That means you have to bear the VAT on the inbound transaction (i.e. buying the rig), without being able to set it off against any VAT on outbound transactions (i.e. selling the mined bitcoins) and without being able to get a refund of the VAT on the rig.
That is of course also exactly the same position you would be in without a VAT number.
For completeness' sake I mention that if you also have (a lot of) outbound transactions that are subject to VAT, you might still be able to recover some VAT on the rig through the "partial exemption" rules, see http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&propertyType=document&id=HMCE_CL_000857#P42_4728 but you would need to jump through some hoops...
In other words, if trading bitcoins is indeed a VAT exempt activity as I argued earlier, this is a bit of a double-edged sword for miners: no VAT on selling bitcoins, just like banks offering payment services, (good) but you have to bear the VAT on your mining equipment, also just like banks (bad). On the other hand, if the opposite were true, I don't think that would help your business at all...
So... let's hope you get a good deal on the rig
Taking my theory developed in my earlier post into account, you would be in the same position as a bank that purchases special computer equipment so it can offer exempt payment services.
That means you have to bear the VAT on the inbound transaction (i.e. buying the rig), without being able to set it off against any VAT on outbound transactions (i.e. selling the mined bitcoins) and without being able to get a refund of the VAT on the rig.
That is of course also exactly the same position you would be in without a VAT number.
For completeness' sake I mention that if you also have (a lot of) outbound transactions that are subject to VAT, you might still be able to recover some VAT on the rig through the "partial exemption" rules, see http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&propertyType=document&id=HMCE_CL_000857#P42_4728 but you would need to jump through some hoops...
In other words, if trading bitcoins is indeed a VAT exempt activity as I argued earlier, this is a bit of a double-edged sword for miners: no VAT on selling bitcoins, just like banks offering payment services, (good) but you have to bear the VAT on your mining equipment, also just like banks (bad). On the other hand, if the opposite were true, I don't think that would help your business at all...
So... let's hope you get a good deal on the rig