Disability VAT Exemption – Do I Qualify?

Talk of tax law may seem dull, or hard to understand; but you can avoid paying an extra 20% by mistake when you buy from us if you follow this advice, so please do take a look, and save yourself a small fortune!

It is important to remember that, if you have a long-term illness or a disability, you don’t have to pay VAT on certain goods and services that you buy in the UK. These goods are usually those which are of practical help to you in light of your illness or disability.

Considering the types of products which we sell, it won’t surprise you to learn that Disability VAT Exemption applies to many of them.

Our website is designed to make clear which products are and which are not eligible for Disability VAT Exemption. There is a sliding button incorporated into the site which allows you to toggle between showing prices with and without that VAT exemption applied. Certain products don’t have a VAT exemption available on them even for disabled end users. This will be reflected when they are in your checkout basket, even if you declare yourself eligible for Disability VAT Exemption.

It is important to be aware that you do not need to provide formal documentation to prove that you have a disability which qualifies you for VAT exemption – it is self-declared. Don’t accidentally pay tax which you don’t need to pay!

It is overwhelmingly likely that any mobility or living aid product’s intended end user will be Disability VAT Exempt. Let’s find out why right now.

How Disability and Long-Term Illness are Defined for VAT Purposes

For the purposes of Disability VAT Exemption, the UK Government’s definition of a disability is key to checking eligibility.

If you meet any of the below conditions, you are considered disabled and/or long-term sick for VAT exemption purposes:

• You have a physical or mental impairment with a long-term and substantial adverse effect upon your ability to carry out everyday activities.
• You have a terminal illness.
• You have a condition that the medical profession treats as a chronic sickness e.g. diabetes.

Remember – it doesn’t matter if you do not qualify for Disability VAT Exemption, if the end user you are buying for does!

Below are just three examples of common conditions which you may not be aware qualify people for Disability VAT Exemption. At our online checkout page, there are a range of qualifying conditions shown, but these are not exhaustive – so “Other” is an option from the drop-down menu.

Exclusions

Please note that there are certain situations in which you would not qualify. For example, if you are elderly but able-bodied, or if you’re only temporarily incapacitated, you would not be eligible for VAT relief on grounds of disability and long-term illness.

For this VAT exemption to apply, it isn’t necessary for you to either physically buy the goods in person, or even to pay for them yourself. To give various examples, if your parent, guardian, or spouse buys the goods and services for you, then you will not be charged VAT.

However, purchases of goods and services to which this VAT exemption applies are subject to one very important condition. They must be bought for personal or domestic use. This means that the goods or services are to be supplied for your own private use, rather than for business purposes.

Finally, if the end user is based overseas, i.e. outside the mainland UK customs area, than VAT will have to be applied regardless of their disability status.

If you need any further advice, you can get in touch with us in the following ways:

Phone – 02081 597070

Email – sales@lifestyleandmobility.co.uk