VAT stands for Value Added Tax, and the government applies it to most but not all products and services sold in the UK.
If you are disabled, you won’t need to pay VAT on certain products such as:
The current VAT rate is a whopping 20%, so you could make a significant saving off some purchases.
You can find more information here: www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabled/vat-relief.
If you’re disabled or have a long-term illness, you will not be charged VAT on products designed or adapted for your own personal or domestic use. Also, you will not be charged VAT on:
Your supplier can tell you, but usually products designed or adapted for a disability qualify. For example, certain types of:
To get the product VAT free your disability has to qualify. For VAT purposes, you’re disabled or have a long-term illness if:
You do not qualify if you’re elderly but not disabled, or if you’re temporarily disabled.
You’ll need to confirm in writing that you meet these conditions. Your supplier may give you a form for this.
You can apply to your council for equipment or help to adapt your home if you have a disability.