VAT

Householders could receive a significant price cut when installing “qualifying” solar panels with battery storage technologies. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) told ELN a single indivisible supply and installation of solar panels with a battery in residential accommodation would be charged a 5% VAT rate – “on the understanding the battery is linked to the […]

Sainsbury’s and IKEA are among some of the big brands urging Chancellor Philip Hammond to stop the proposed rise in business rates for solar panels. The two companies have joined the Solar Trade Association (STA) and more than 160 organisations including, schools, public institutions and energy suppliers, which are calling on the government to drop […]

At least 17 Conservative Party MPs are backing Labour’s move to block a tax increase on solar panels and other energy saving measures. They have signed up to the Opposition’s amendment which would stop a VAT hike from 5% to 20% which was initially proposed last year. It followed the European Court of Justice’s ruling […]

The UK Government has proposed a massive VAT hike for solar panels and wind turbines. The news comes as the European Commission said the UK’s legislation was not consistent with EU laws and referred it to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The UK currently applies the reduced VAT rate of 5% for […]

The Treasury has crushed hopes the UK could slash the amount of VAT tax on recycled products. Last week MPs put forward the idea as a way to reduce wasting useful resources like metals. They found in a report only a fraction of British rubbish is being recycled. A Treasury spokesperson said: “EU VAT agreements […]

Recycled products should have lower VAT to drastically reduce waste, say MPs. MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee also believe the UK should have longer warranty periods for consumer goods and a ban on food waste being sent to landfill. Their new report ‘Growing a Circular Economy – Ending the Throwaway Society’ points to figures […]

Norway is to amp up its incentives to drive electric vehicles (EVs) starting in 2014. Norwegians currently pay no VAT when buying EVs and drivers that go all-electric can park for free, go through tolls without paying and make use of the country’s bus lanes. Ola Elvesten, Chair of the Committee on Energy and the […]

A coalition of 34 organisations from the housing sector has called on George Osborne to cut VAT on renovation and repair work. In an open letter to the Chancellor ahead of his Autumn statement the group asks for VAT on domestic building work to be cut down from 20% to 5%, in order to make […]

China is giving a generous tax break to businesses which make solar power products in the country, its Ministry of Finance announced over the weekend. The tax break which began yesterday (1 October) will last until 31 December 2015, reported Chinese news agency Xinhua. Firms which sell solar panels they have manufactured themselves will get a […]

The move from fossil fuels to green energy could cost British households £600 a year by 2020, according to an industry analyst. A new report by think tank Civitas claims the total price tag of pursuing renewables could rise above £16 billion a year when VAT is included. Dr John Constable (pictured), Director of the […]