20% standard rate
Most UK goods and services are standard-rated unless legislation provides a reduced rate, zero rate or exemption. A familiar product category is not enough: use, customer, supplier and exact product details can change the result.
- Most goods and services
- Professional services
- Many consumer products
- Default where no relief applies
5% reduced rate
The reduced rate applies only to specified goods and services when their conditions are met. Examples can include qualifying domestic fuel, children's car seats and certain property works, but sector-specific rules and temporary measures must be checked.
- Defined statutory categories
- Use and customer conditions
- Certificates where required
- Time-limited measures
0% zero rate
Zero-rated supplies are taxable supplies charged at 0%. They remain part of taxable turnover and can support input VAT recovery, unlike many exempt supplies.
- Taxable turnover
- Input VAT recovery
- Evidence conditions
- Different from exemption
Exempt and outside scope are not zero-rated
An exempt supply does not carry output VAT and can restrict input VAT recovery. An outside-scope transaction may sit outside the UK VAT system entirely. The reasons and return treatment differ.
- Exempt finance and property examples
- Outside-scope donations or non-UK supplies
- Partial exemption
- VAT return reporting
Tax guidance changes. These official sources were checked on 31 August 2026.
GOV.UK VAT rates