Changes to VAT zero rating imminent
HMRC has announced an extension to the materials qualifying for the VAT zero rate from 1 February 2024. What’s the full story?
The government often uses tax policy to encourage the use of energy efficient/otherwise environmentally friendly technologies. Currently, the purchase of certain energy-saving materials (ESM) is zero rated for VAT until 31 March 2027, at which point it is due to revert to the reduced VAT rate of 5%. Following a consultation, the list of materials qualifying for the zero rate has been extended to include the following from 1 February 2024:
- Electrical battery storage that is retrofitted to a qualifying ESM (currently this is only available if the battery is fitted at the same time as the ESM).
- Installation of electrical battery storage as a standalone technology connected to the grid.
- Water-source heat pumps; and
- Diverters retrofitted to ESMs such as solar panels and wind turbines.
The zero rate will also apply to the installation of some groundworks that are required for the installation of heat pumps. These works will be specifically defined in the legislation.
Further information on the outcome of the consultation can be found here.
Related Topics
-
HMRC speeds up National Insurance refunds
HMRC has confirmed that it is using a new automated process to speed up National Insurance refunds. Where its records suggest that someone may have overpaid, HMRC will write to them asking them to check their employment and contribution details before any refund is processed. Could you be due money back?
-
Should you voluntarily payroll benefits in kind?
The window to sign up to voluntarily payroll non-mandatory benefits in kind for 2027/28 will open in November. Is it worth volunteering to pay HMRC earlier than required or should you wait until it becomes mandatory in 2028/29?
-
Wise tax statement errors could affect 4,000 customers
Around 4,000 UK customers of financial services provider Wise have been told that tax statements issued between 2021 and 2025 contained incorrect figures. The errors could have resulted in taxpayers paying too much or too little income tax and capital gains tax (CGT). What should affected customers check?
This website uses both its own and third-party cookies to analyze our services and navigation on our website in order to improve its contents (analytical purposes: measure visits and sources of web traffic). The legal basis is the consent of the user, except in the case of basic cookies, which are essential to navigate this website.