Value-added tax in the United Kingdom

Taxation in the United Kingdom
UK Government Departments
HM Treasury HM Revenue and Customs
UK Government
VAT Income tax PAYE National Insurance Health and Social Care Levy (proposal abolished) Corporation tax Capital gains tax Motoring taxes Inheritance tax Stamp Duty Stamp Duty Reserve Tax Stamp Duty Land Tax Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings Insurance Premium Tax Air Passenger Duty Petroleum Revenue Tax Aggregates Levy Various alcohol- and gambling-related duties Bingo Duty Climate Change Levy Landfill tax Machine Games Duty Tobacco Duty Vehicle Excise Duty
Scottish Government
Revenue Scotland Scottish income tax Land and Buildings Transaction Tax Scottish Landfill Tax Air Departure Tax
Welsh Government
Taxation in Wales Welsh Revenue Authority Welsh Rates of Income Tax Land Transaction Tax Landfill Disposals Tax
Local Government
Council Tax Domestic rates in Northern Ireland Business rates in England Business rates in Wales Business rates in Scotland Business rates in Northern Ireland
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In the United Kingdom, the value added tax (VAT)^[1] was introduced in 1973, replacing Purchase Tax, and is the third-largest source of government revenue, after income tax and National Insurance. It is administered and collected by HM Revenue and Customs, primarily through the Value Added Tax Act 1994.

VAT is levied on most goods and services provided by registered businesses in the UK and some goods and services imported from outside the UK.^[2] The default VAT rate is the standard rate, 20% since 4 January 2011. Some goods and services are subject to VAT at a reduced rate of 5% (such as domestic fuel) or 0% (such as most food and children's clothing).^[3] Others are exempt from VAT or outside the system altogether.

VAT is an indirect tax because the tax is paid to the government by the seller (the business) rather than the person who ultimately bears the economic burden of the tax (the consumer).^[4] Opponents of VAT claim it is a regressive tax because the poorest people spend a higher proportion of their disposable income on VAT than the richest people.^[5] Those in favour of VAT claim it is progressive as consumers who spend more pay more VAT.^[4]