Monday 13 July 2020

VAT Reduced Rate of 5%


One of the new Government initiatives last week was the announcement of the reduction in VAT to 5% on hospitality, hotel and holiday accommodation and admissions to certain attractions.

The reduced VAT scheme starts on the 15th July so please talk to us if you have any concerns. 

VAT – REDUCED RATE OF 5% 

The government made an announcement on the 8th July 2020 allowing VAT registered businesses to apply a temporary 5% reduced rate of VAT to certain supplies relating to:

hospitality
hotel and holiday accommodation
admissions to certain attractions

The temporary reduced rate will apply to supplies that are made between 15 July 2020 and 12 January 2021.

Reduced rate for hospitality, holiday accommodation and attractions

Hospitality

If you supply food and non-alcoholic beverages for consumption on your premises, for example, a restaurant, cafĂ© or pub, you’re currently required to charge VAT at the standard rate of 20%. However, when you make these supplies between 15 July 2020 and 12 January 2021 you will only need to charge 5%.

You will also be able to charge the reduced rate of VAT on your supplies of hot takeaway food and hot takeaway non-alcoholic drinks.

More information about how these changes apply to your business can be found in Catering, takeaway food (VAT Notice 709/1). See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/catering-takeaway-food-and-vat-notice-7091

Hotel and holiday accommodation

You will also benefit from the temporary reduced rate if you:

supply sleeping accommodation in a hotel or similar establishment
make certain supplies of holiday accommodation
charge fees for caravan pitches and associated facilities
charge fees for tent pitches or camping facilities

More information about how these changes apply to your business can be found in Hotels and holiday accommodation (VAT Notice 709/3). See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hotels-holiday-accommodation-and-vat-notice-7093

VAT on admission charges to attractions

If you charge a fee for admission to certain attractions where the supplies are currently standard rated, you will only need to charge the reduced rate of VAT between 15 July 2020 and 12 January 2021.

However, if the fee you charge for admission is currently exempt that will take precedence and your supplies will not qualify for the reduced rate.

This applies to:

shows
theatres
circuses
fairs
amusement parks
concerts
museums
zoos
cinemas
exhibitions
similar cultural events and facilities

Examples of where the reduced rate may apply could be attractions such as:

a planetarium
botanical gardens
studio tours
factory tours

More information about how these changes apply can be found in VAT: Admission charges to attractions. 


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