Category Archives: VAT Did you know

A VAT Did you know?

By   29 January 2025

Children’s clothing is zero rated. But where a child has one foot larger than the other, the pair of shoes can be zero-rated if the smaller shoe qualifies as a child’s size (boys 6 1/2 and girls; generally, size 3).

A VAT Did you know?

By   20 December 2024

In or out?

If a biscuit is covered, even partially, in chocolate the VAT is 20%, but if the chocolate is inside, say a choc chip cookie or a bourbon, it is VAT free.

A VAT did you know?

By   26 November 2024

Children’s clothes are zero-rated. These include; hats, caps, braces, belts, garters and scarves, but not earmuffs – which are standard rated even if they are for children.

A VAT did you know?

By   25 October 2024

If you buy a flapjack* from a vending machine in the corridor at work it is VAT free. However, if you buy the same product from a machine in the staff canteen it will be standard rated.

* Of course, zero rating only applies to a “traditional” flapjack and not cereal or energy/sports nutrition bars…

A VAT Did you know?

By   26 September 2024

Fruit pulp is zero-rated, but fruit juice is standard-rated.

A VAT Did you know?

By   27 August 2024

The Irish Supreme Court ruled that the bread sold by the restaurant chain Subway was too sweet to be classified as bread and that the high sugar content meant that it could not be zero rated.

A VAT Did you know?

By   29 July 2024

Toffee apples are zero-rated, however, any other fruit which is covered in sugar (or toffee) sold as confectionary is standard rated.

A VAT: Did you know?

By   25 June 2024

In the current election the Liberal Democrats’ manifesto stated that they would apply zero-rating to children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste. Whether this impacts the money left by the tooth fairy remains to be seen…

A VAT: Did you know?

By   24 May 2024

Banana and strawberry flavoured Nesquik drinks are standard rated, but chocolate flavoured Nesquik is zero rated.

A VAT: Did you know?

By   24 April 2024

The sale of a dead horse is VAT free, but a live horse is standard-rated.

(This is not a recommended tax planning scheme).