Do I need to register for VAT

[phil4v19]

Hi
I sell via ebay , amazon and websites

I totally new to the whole areas of VAT and am currently unregistered.

I have just realised that recently my turnover in the last 12 months now exceeds the VAT limit. (sales were about 78000) this was mainly due to selling high priced cameras for the last 4 months which I dont normaly sell.

My questions are:-
1) 40% of my sales are international (some EU some Non-EU) so do these count towards the turnover that is used to determine whether I have hit the threshold? If not I may still be under the limit
2) If I have to pay VAT do I need to pay it on my international sales.
3) if I have to pay VAT then I have no idea where to start..
can I back date claims for VAT on business purchases and from what date.
What do I do about the VAT that I should have charged customers. Can I just start from now??

4) I am now intending to stop selling the cameras in which case can I deregister (or avoid registration all together)

5) I also run a musical instrument teaching business - does that mean I now have to charge VAT on that or is that a separate business.

It all sounds a really messy business and makes me wish I never traded this year

[Generix]

On what basis do you sell the goods?

i.e. where do you source your stock? Is it sourced from UK suppliers, or suppliers abroad. If abroad do you have the goods shipped to the UK first or do you have them direct to your customer.

Basically I would need to understand where the goods physically move from your supplier to you through to your end customer to advise you any further.