Liability ― water and sewage

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by a Tolley Value Added Tax expert
Value Added Tax
Guidance

Liability ― water and sewage

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by a Tolley Value Added Tax expert
Value Added Tax
Guidance
imgtext

This guidance note looks at the liability of supplies connected with water and sewage.

For an overview of VAT liability more broadly, see the Liability ― overview guidance note.

In-depth commentary on the legislation related to supplies of water and sewerage services is contained in De Voil Indirect Tax Service V4.271.

Water, sewage and connected services ― the basics

Liability of supplies of water

When considering the liability of supplies of water it is helpful to make a distinction between:

  1. •

    water supplied for industrial activities

  2. •

    water supplied for non-industrial activities

Water for industrial activities

Water which is supplied for what the VAT legislation calls a ‘relevant industrial activity’ will be standard-rated. The supplier is responsible for determining who is using the water and the correct VAT treatment of the supply made.

A relevant industrial activity is one of the activities described in Divisions 1–5 of the 1980 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification. The five divisions are:

  1. •

    energy and water supply industries

  2. •

    extraction of minerals and ores other than fuels;

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+™
TAKE A FREE TRIAL NOW
Powered by Tolley+™
  • 29 Jul 2025 10:00

Home/ Tolley Tax Guidance/ Value Added Tax / Determining VAT liability

Popular Articles

Personal Tax

Self assessment ― amendments and corrections

Self assessment ― amendments and correctionsOnce a self assessment tax return has been filed, both HMRC and the taxpayer (or the agent) has the right to make changes to the return. There are different time limits depending on whether it is a correction by HMRC or an amendment made by the

14 Jul 2020 13:37 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more
Employment Tax

Loans written off

Loans written offCompanies sometimes provide directors, employees or shareholders with low interest or interest-free loans either as part of the reward package or on special occasions to help the individual meet significant expenditure. The employment income implications of these loans are discussed

14 Jul 2020 12:11 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more
Owner-Managed Businesses

First year allowances

First year allowancesFirst year allowances (FYAs) are available on the following items:•first-year relief on qualifying new main rate plant and machinery (at 100%, which is described by HMRC as ‘full expensing’) and special rate assets (at 50%) from 1 April 2023 (companies only). These FYAs were

14 Jul 2020 11:41 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more
tag-icon Autumn Budget 2025