VATfaqs.com
NewsVAT ValidatorSubmit ArticleAbout

Our Sponsors

e-Invoice.app logo

VATfaqs.com

Global VAT and indirect tax news for professionals.

Links

  • Digest Archive
  • About
  • Submit Article

Tools

  • VAT Number Validator

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2026 VATfaqs.com - Global VAT News

    Back to News
    The Guardian
    January 2, 2026 (about 2 months ago)

    Uber rewrites contracts with drivers to avoid paying UK’s new ‘taxi tax’

    Featured image for: Uber rewrites contracts with drivers to avoid paying UK’s new ‘taxi tax’
    United Kingdom VAT News • The Guardian

    Summary

    The UK’s new ‘taxi tax’ imposes a 20% VAT on minicab fares, but Uber has restructured driver contracts from January 2026 to act as an agent, shifting VAT responsibility to drivers. Most drivers earn below £90 k and therefore do not charge VAT, keeping fares outside London unchanged, while London fares remain subject to VAT.

    e-Invoice.app - Global e-Invoicing Requirements Tracker
    Gold Sponsor

    e-Invoice.app

    Global e-Invoicing Requirements Tracker

    Stay Updated on VAT News

    Get VAT and indirect tax news delivered to your inbox twice a week.

    No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Related News

    Completing an Import One Stop Shop VAT return as an intermediary on behalf of your client

    UK Government · 5 days ago

    HMRC’s guidance explains that intermediaries can register for the Import One‑Stop Shop (IOSS) scheme from 1 April 2026 and must submit a monthly IOSS VAT return on behalf of each client. The return must capture VAT on low‑value imports to EU and Northern Ireland consumers, use ECB exchange rates, and requires nil returns if no sales occur. Intermediaries must also keep 10‑year records and can correct returns within three years.

    UK Court Blocks Telecom's £51M VAT Refund Bid

    Law360 · 7 days ago

    A London appeals court dismissed a UK telecommunications provider’s bid to recover £51.1 million in VAT payments, agreeing with a lower court that the VAT is owed when the provider supplied services. The decision confirms the provider cannot recover the VAT paid on its telecom services.

    Lycamobile UK Loses Appeal in £50 Million Tax Case

    Bloomberg Tax · 7 days ago

    The Upper Tribunal ruled that Lycamobile UK must pay more than £50 million in VAT, requiring the operator to charge VAT on the full price of prepaid mobile bundles at the point of sale, rather than only on services actually used. The decision, dated 12 Feb 2026, overturns Lycamobile's previous VAT calculation method.

    VAT Government and Public Bodies

    UK Government · 8 days ago

    This HMRC internal manual provides guidance on how VAT applies to local authorities and other government and public bodies in the UK. It covers various categories such as non‑business activities, police authorities, NHS capital projects, and local government partnership programmes. The manual serves as a reference for VAT compliance and exemptions for public sector entities.

    UK E-invoicing Mandate 2029: Prepare Finance & IT Now

    Seeburger · 12 days ago

    The UK will require all VAT invoices to be e‑invoiced by 2029, mandating machine‑readable formats and accredited transmission. The article outlines the scope, Peppol alignment, and a step‑by‑step timeline for 2026‑2028 to help finance, IT and procurement prepare. It highlights key milestones such as selecting an access point, adopting a canonical data model, and piloting with trading partners.

    One minute with Fabian Barth

    TaxJournal · 12 days ago

    The interview with Fabian Barth, VAT Manager at Alvarez & Marsal, discusses the challenges of obtaining binding rulings in the UK, recent Supreme Court VAT cases in 2025, and his view that legislative changes should allow public law arguments in tribunals. He notes that the Hotel La Tour and Prudential cases downplayed CJEU precedent, and that European case law remains binding but is not always applied.

    Key Facts

    • •From 1 Nov 2025 the UK introduced a ‘taxi tax’ that applies a 20% VAT to all minicab fares, projected to protect £700 m of tax revenue annually.
    • •From 1 Jan 2026 Uber’s contracts changed so the company acts as an agent; drivers contract directly with passengers and must charge any VAT due on the fare.
    • •Because most drivers earn less than £90 k in bookings per year, they are not required to charge VAT, so the majority of Uber fares outside London avoid the 20% tax.
    • •In London the agency model is prohibited by Transport for London rules, so Uber passengers there continue to pay VAT on fares.
    • •The change was announced in the November 2025 budget and is expected to reduce Uber’s tax payments while maintaining revenue for the Treasury.
    Global
    United Kingdom
    Compliance
    VAT Rates
    VAT Update
    Sales Tax
    Read Full Article at The Guardian