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
-
What’s a trivial benefit worth to employers?
The tax and NI exemption for trivial benefits is much misunderstood, but nonetheless very useful to employers. When can you use it, what are its advantages and are there any pitfalls to watch out for?
-
Should you agree to your customer’s self-billing request?
A customer wants to adopt a self-billing system, meaning they will issue invoices on your behalf and charge VAT or otherwise. Can you refuse their request and what are the risks of accepting?
-
Travel expenses - exempt or not?
You have several employees who travel from home or their workplace in the course of doing their job. Naturally, you meet the cost of their travel but should you be deducting tax and NI from the payments, or are they exempt?
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.