What are three items that are VAT exempt?

Asked by: Cyril Moore  |  Last update: July 25, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (62 votes)

Based on UK and EU VAT regulations, here are three examples of items or services that are generally VAT exempt:

What items are exempt from VAT?

When not to charge VAT

  • financial services, investments and insurance.
  • garages, parking spaces and houseboat moorings.
  • property, land and buildings.
  • education and training (excluding private schools)
  • healthcare and medical treatment.
  • funeral plans, burial or cremation services.
  • charity events.
  • antiques.

What are common VAT-exempt items?

Common Types of VAT Exempted Supplies

  • Education services like schools and private tutoring.
  • Medical and healthcare treatments.
  • Non-profit sports and cultural programs.
  • Charity-run fundraising events.
  • Banking, insurance, and other financial services.

What are VAT-exempt?

Your sale is VAT-exempt if it falls under Section 109 of the Tax Code, such as sales of certain residential properties, agricultural food products, educational and medical services. You do not charge VAT and cannot claim input VAT credits.

What kind of supplies are often VAT free?

Items designated as zero-rated can vary by country but typically include essential goods such as basic foodstuffs, prescription medications, and water services. Zero-rated goods are critical in international trade as they are not subject to VAT in cross-border transactions, lowering costs for importing and exporting.

AAT Level 3 - TPFB - VAT Partial Exemption

39 related questions found

What type of goods are exempt from VAT?

Common examples of VAT-exempt items or services include:

  • Education: Educational services, such as those provided by schools, universities, and vocational training centers, are often VAT-exempt.
  • Healthcare: Medical services, hospital care, and the supply of certain medical products may also be exempt from VAT.

Is McDonald's VAT free?

The price of menu items available for McDelivery also differs to the price of menu items available in McDonald's restaurants. All prices include VAT at the current UK rate.

Which of the following is VAT exempt?

Some examples of VAT-exempt sectors include: Basic and Essential Goods: Sale or importation of agricultural and marine food products in their original state (e.g., fresh fish, vegetables). Educational Services: Services rendered by accredited private educational institutions and government educational institutions.

What expenses are no VAT?

Costs that are exempt for VAT don't have VAT on them. Examples include: all services provided by a post office, such as postage and stamps. insurance and other financial services.

What items qualify for VAT refunds?

What items are eligible for a VAT refund? Typical Recoverable Expenses are:

  • Hotel and Transportation.
  • Conferences and Tradeshows.
  • TV and Motion Picture Production.
  • Inter-Company (travel delegations, services, seminars)
  • Import VAT, Logistics and Warranty Products.
  • Drop-shipping, Installations and Maintenance contracts.

What are exempt supplies examples?

It is the supply of goods and services that does not attract GST and allows no claim on ITC. Example: Bread, fresh fruits, fresh milk and curd etc. Services Tax Act, and includes non-taxable supply.

What can I not claim VAT on?

You cannot reclaim VAT for: anything that's only for personal use. goods and services your business uses to make VAT -exempt supplies. the cost of entertaining or providing hospitality to people you do business with (for example theatre or sports tickets)

What items are included in VAT?

VAT applies to practically all sales of services and imports, as well as to the sale, barter, exchange, or lease of goods or properties (tangible or intangible).

What products do you not pay VAT on?

VAT exempt supplies include:

  • Education and training.
  • Insurance, finance and credit.
  • Fundraising events by charities.
  • Medical treatments provided by hospitals.
  • Subscriptions to membership organisations.
  • Selling, leasing and letting of commercial land and buildings — though authorities can waive this exemption.

What items are 100% deductible?

You might be surprised to learn that simple business expenses like your cellphone bill or your new computer can be deducted from your taxable income. In fact, there are some fully-deductible expenses such as advertising and marketing costs, employee education and training, and certain legal fees.

What qualifies for VAT exemption?

To get the product VAT free your disability has to qualify. For VAT purposes, you're disabled or have a long-term illness if: you have a physical or mental impairment that affects your ability to carry out everyday activities, for example blindness. you have a condition that's treated as chronic sickness, like diabetes.

What are the items exempted from VAT?

Goods Exempt

  • All medical and pharmaceutical products.
  • Basic food items.
  • Books and educational materials.
  • Baby products.
  • Locally produced fertilizer, agricultural and veterinary medicine, farming machinery and farming transportation equipment.
  • All exported goods.

Why would you be VAT exempt?

If something is exempt from VAT, it's usually because the product is considered to be an essential good or service. HMRC has a full list of VAT-exempt products, but some of the main goods and services that are exempt from VAT include: Sporting activities and physical education. Education and training.

Is coffee exempt from VAT?

Whilst coffee products used to prepare coffee, for example, instant coffee or ground/whole beans are zero-rated, coffee purchased as a hot drink from a café, restaurant or similar establishment, is subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20%.

Can Jews eat filet o fish?

This sandwich is also popular among Jewish and Muslim communities due to its ingredients being more aligned with kashrut and halal rules than McDonald's other offerings. The sandwich contains fish, milk in the cheese, and egg yolks in the sauce.

Is cheese VAT free?

The majority of products that can be purchased for use in home cooking and baking fall under the zero rating classification for VAT. These are products such as flour, sugar, eggs, butter, spices and even cheese although cheese is produced from milk.

Is there VAT on water?

Water charges can be subject to VAT at the standard rate, whereas there is no VAT on wastewater or trade effluent charges. Whether or not your business is charged VAT on water usage depends on your Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code.

Is there VAT on gas?

The standard VAT rate is 20%, but for qualifying electricity and gas usage, this reduces to a 5% VAT rate.

What can't you claim VAT on?

Goods and services used for VAT-exempt products and services

If you buy materials or services that your business then uses to create new products and services that are exempt from VAT, such as insurance services or online lottery games, then you cannot claim back VAT on those materials or services.