No. 10: VAT on energy efficient goods + services

"Prime Minister. There has been a lot of talk of increasing taxes to drive energy efficiency however I would like you to consider the following tax reductions: Remove VAT on ALL energy efficiency products. Remove VAT on all building works specifically aimed at improving home energy effiicency e.g. Double Glazing, Cavity Wall insulation, loft insulation, micro generation systems, Solar Panels, energy efficient boilers etc. Reduce VAT on energy efficient cars By removing VAT, these products and services will be cheaper for the customer and stimulate demand, reducing energy consumption."

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumer expenditure and reliefs from it have always been strictly limited. When the UK joined the European Community in 1973, it meant signing up to the general agreements which covered the application of VAT throughout the EC. Under these and successive agreements we are allowed to keep our existing zero rates of VAT on things such as food, books and young children's clothing, most of which had been exempt from the old purchase tax that preceded VAT. Whilst these agreements allow us to keep our existing zero rates they do not allow us to extend them or introduce new ones. It is therefore not possible to remove VAT from the environmentally friendly products listed.

Under the same European agreements, a reduced rate of VAT of not less than 5% is available for the construction, renovation and alteration of housing provided as part of a social policy. We have been sparing in our use of reduced rates and have only introduced them where we are convinced that the tax system offers the most efficient and best-targeted support for our social objectives. To date we have used this provision to introduce a reduced rate of VAT for the installation of a range of energy-saving and energy-efficient products and microgeneration technologies, including solar panels, wind turbines, insulation and draught stripping in houses and other residential accommodation.

However, at present, these agreements do not allow a reduced rate to be applied to goods alone when not supplied as part of an overall service. Changes to the European agreements governing the availability of VAT reduced rates require the unanimous support of all EU Member States. The Government has made the case at European level for changes to the agreements that would enable wider use of reduced rates for energy-saving and energy-efficient products. However, there is significant resistance to the introduction of new reduced rates for goods from some Member States because of the potential impact on the Single Market. We will consider our options and priorities for new reduced rates carefully when the issue next becomes due for discussion at EU level.

Labels: 17.5% VAT, 5% VAT, No. 10 petition, zero rate VAT