VAT refund schemes ― museums and galleries

Produced by a Tolley Value Added Tax expert
Value Added Tax
Guidance

VAT refund schemes ― museums and galleries

Produced by a Tolley Value Added Tax expert
Value Added Tax
Guidance
imgtext

This guidance note covers the special VAT refund scheme that applies to certain museums and galleries.

For in-depth commentary on the legislation, see De Voil Indirect Tax Service V5.162A.

VAT refund scheme for museums and galleries ― the basics

Museums and galleries which allow members of the public to enter free of charge can apply to join a scheme entitling them to refunds of VAT incurred on costs which would not otherwise be recoverable.

To be eligible for the scheme a museum must meet certain conditions, such as being open to the general public for at least 30 hours per week.

The application process involves obtaining support from one of a set of governmental administrations or departments (eg the Department for Culture, Media and Sport).

Once within the scheme, the museum or gallery may reclaim VAT which is attributable to free admission. This can include (for example) VAT incurred on items and collections on display.

Museums and galleries which can apply to join the scheme

To qualify for the scheme

Continue reading the full document
To gain access to additional expert tax guidance, workflow tools, generative tax AI, and tax research, register for a free trial of Tolley+™
Powered by Tolley+
  • 27 Oct 2025 12:30

Popular Articles

Residential property and capital allowances

Residential property and capital allowancesResidential property ― plant and machinery allowancesOrdinary residential property does not, and never has, qualified for capital allowances. as CAA 2001, s 35 denies plant allowances for expenditure incurred in providing plant or machinery for use in a

14 Jul 2020 17:14 | Produced by Tolley in association with Martin Wilson and Steven Bone Read more Read more

Real estate investment trusts (REITs)

Real estate investment trusts (REITs)Introduction to REITsA real estate investment trust (REIT) is in fact not a trust at all, it is a company which qualifies for special tax treatment under CTA 2010, Part 12. REITs are similar in many ways to collective fund vehicles (such as unit trusts) in that

14 Jul 2020 13:04 | Produced by Tolley in association with Rob Durrant-Walker of Crane Dale Tax, part of AMS Group Read more Read more

Income tax paid on behalf of employee

Income tax paid on behalf of employeeIntroductionEmployers may wish to make payments of employment income to an employee / director without the employee suffering a tax or NIC cost on that pay. In other words, the employer wants to pay an amount net of tax and NIC. In some instances, often with

14 Jul 2020 11:58 | Produced by Tolley in association with Paul Tew Read more Read more