The UK government will remove VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October 2026, cutting the rate from 5% to 0%. The change is expected to save households around £45 a year and will be funded by cancelling the Digital ID programme.
The VATfaqs digest
Global VAT news, delivered Tuesday and Thursday. Free, curated from 50+ official sources, no spam.
No spam · Unsubscribe any time
The Independent · about 5 hours ago
In the UK, the government announced an £850 million tax cut on energy bills, making electricity bills VAT free from 1 October 2026 in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland remains exempt because EU VAT rates apply under the Windsor Framework, preventing the cut from applying there.
BBC · about 10 hours ago
UK VAT will be cut from household electricity bills from 1 October, reducing the rate from 5% to zero and saving households about £45 a year. The cut is funded by savings from scrapping the digital ID programme and will apply to England, Scotland and Wales, with equivalent funding for Northern Ireland.
The Independent · about 10 hours ago
UK households will see 5% VAT removed from electricity bills from 1 October 2026, a move announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The change is expected to save about £45 on a typical annual bill, though a projected 3.1% rise in the price cap may offset the benefit.
Yahoo News Canada · about 14 hours ago
The United Kingdom will see VAT on household electricity removed from 5% to 0% on 1 October, saving typical homes around £45 a year.
Law360 · about 14 hours ago
UK court rules that Staffing Co cannot recover input VAT because its director knew or should have known its supply chain was compromised by fraud. The decision underscores the importance of due diligence in supply chain management for VAT recovery.
UK HMRC · 1 day ago
UK HMRC provides guidance on how VAT claims are calculated and applied to insolvent businesses, including details on relevant dates, amended claims, and penalty interest. The handbook outlines procedures for proof of debt, statutory interest, and the impact of recent changes such as the cessation of tax clearance in MVL cases from 6 December 2023.
Key Takeaways
From 1 October 2026, the UK government will reduce VAT on domestic electricity from 5% to 0%.
The VAT cut takes effect from 1 October 2026.
Small businesses not VAT-registered, charities and residential care homes qualifying for reduced rate will benefit.
The cut will be funded by cancelling the Digital ID programme, costing around £850m this financial year.
Primary source
Read the full article at The IndependentThis summary was published on VATfaqs.com on 21 July 2026. It relates to VAT developments in United Kingdom. The original source is The Independent.
