VAT basic principles

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

What is VAT?

The UK value added tax (VAT) system is:

  1. •

    derived from the EU Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (the VAT Directive), and

  2. •

    mainly set out in the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (VATA 1994)

EU Member States also have a system of VAT. The UK ceased to be an EU Member State on 31 January 2020. On this date, the UK entered an implementation period (IP), during which it continued to be treated as a Member State for many purposes, and remained bound by EU law. The IP ended at 11 pm on 31 December 2020. On that date, a body of EU-derived rights and legislation, known as retained EU law (REUL), was converted into domestic UK law. For more on REUL and tax, see Practice Note: Retained EU law and tax.

On 1 January 2024, REUL that remained in force after the end of 2023 was recategorised as ‘assimilated law’. That recategorisation reflects a change in its status and treatment under UK law, in that assimilated law is

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Existing user? Sign-in TAKE A FREE TRIAL
Powered by Lexis+®
Latest Tax News

Pension scheme’s failure to fulfil commitment to provide information about annual allowance was maladministration, despite no legal obligation (Dr S, CAS-60994-H2H2)

Pensions analysis: The Pensions Ombudsman has upheld a complaint about member communication. Martin Scott of gunnercooke LLP looks at the decision.

Tax weekly highlights—12 June 2025

This week's edition of Tax weekly highlights includes: (1) the publication of the government’s response to the consultation on the tax treatment of carried interest, (2) the impact of the Spending Review on HMRC, (3) an update to the FTT’s guidance on oral evidence from abroad and (4) HMRC’s update on capital allowances areas of uncertainty.

FTT considers ‘eligible body’ status for education-related VAT exemption purposes (Solent Pathway Campus Ltd v HMRC)

Tax analysis: In Solent Pathway Campus Ltd v HMRC, the First-tier Tax Tribunal (FTT) decided that the appellant (SPCL) was an eligible body as a provider of education for VAT purposes. The FTT found that SPCL had the relevant features to be an eligible body, either as a college of a UK university, or as a provider of tuition in English as a foreign language.

The Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill—a quick guide

Construction analysis: The Scottish Government introduced the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill into the Scottish Parliament on 5 June 2025. The bill seeks to introduce a new tax: the Scottish Building Safety Levy (SBSL). The levy will be charged on the construction or conversion of residential property developments, and used to fund building safety expenditure by the Scottish Government. In this article, we give an overview of the background to the bill and its key provisions.

View Tax by content type :  
News
Practice notes
Precedents
Q&As

Popular documents

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companiesWhy does it matter?A company that is a member of a group and has incurred any of the types of losses available for surrender by way of group relief may, without any further rules, have more than one way in which to use the loss. There are a

Strike out—making an application to strike out a statement of case

Strike out—making an application to strike out a statement of caseA strike out order can be made either following an application by the parties or on the court's own initiative. This Practice Note deals with the scenario of the order being made following a party's application.Making an application

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?A limited company having a share capital may not alter that share capital, except in the ways listed in section 617 of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006). Shares in a company cannot simply be cancelled without following an

Template for regulatory references given by SMCR firms and disclosure requirements

Template for regulatory references given by SMCR firms and disclosure requirements[Insert addressee details]Dear [insert name][It is our understanding that [insert name of prospective employee] [was an employee of yours between the dates of [insert dates as appropriate] OR is a current employee of
Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companiesWhy does it matter?A company that is a member of a group and has incurred any of the types of losses available for surrender by way of group relief may, without any further rules, have more than one way in which to use the loss. There are a

Strike out—making an application to strike out a statement of case

Strike out—making an application to strike out a statement of case

Strike out—making an application to strike out a statement of caseA strike out order can be made either following an application by the parties or on the court's own initiative. This Practice Note deals with the scenario of the order being made following a party's application.Making an application

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?A limited company having a share capital may not alter that share capital, except in the ways listed in section 617 of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006). Shares in a company cannot simply be cancelled without following an

Template for regulatory references given by SMCR firms and disclosure requirements

Template for regulatory references given by SMCR firms and disclosure requirements

Template for regulatory references given by SMCR firms and disclosure requirements[Insert addressee details]Dear [insert name][It is our understanding that [insert name of prospective employee] [was an employee of yours between the dates of [insert dates as appropriate] OR is a current employee of