VAT Questions and Answers
In this section of the website we answer the most frequently asked questions regarding the UK VAT system. If you have a question you would like answered on this page please feel free to submit it via our contact page.
What is VAT? VAT stands for Value Added Tax and is charged upon purchase of most goods and services in the United Kingdom. The current VAT rate for the UK currently stands at 20% and has been since the 4th January 2011. There have been just 3 changes to the VAT rate since 1991. A global recession prompted a temporary reduction to 15% on the 1st December 2008 which lasted until the 1st January 2010, the VAT rate was then returned to the ever familiar 17.5% however on the 4th January 2011 the rate was raised to 20% following a coalition government emergency budget and has remained there ever since.
Random VAT Facts 1. Frenchman Maurice Lauré was the first to introduce VAT on the 10th April 1954 however the idea was not his, German Dr. Wilhelm von Siemens dreamed up the concept in 1918. It avoids drawing comparison with a sales tax by only taxing the value added at each stage of production.2. VAT was introduced as a European replacement for the old purchase tax. This was charged at differing rates according to the luxury of an item.3. Personal consumers of products and services cannot claim back VAT on purchases made, however businesses are able to recover VAT on products and services that they buy in order to produce further goods or services that will then be sold providing they are VAT registered.