What are VAT rates?

Second reduced rate of VAT

The second reduced rate of Value-Added Tax (VAT) applies only to certain goods and services, including:

  • the supply of food and drink (excluding alcohol, soft drinks and bottled water) in the course of catering
  • the supply, by means of a vending machine, of food and drink that would otherwise be zero-rated
  • hot take-away food and hot drinks
  • hotel lettings, for example, guesthouses, caravan parks or camping sites
  • admissions to cinemas, theatres, certain musical performances, museums, art galleries or exhibitions
  • amusement services of the kind normally supplied in fairgrounds or amusement parks
  • the provision, by a person other than a non-profit making organisation, of facilities for taking part in sport
  • printed matter, for example, newspapers, magazines, brochures, leaflets, programmes, maps, catalogues or printed music (excluding books)
  • hairdressing services (excluding beauty treatments)
  • the supply of live horses, other than those normally intended for use in the preparation of foodstuffs or in agricultural production; hire of horses and the supply of greyhounds.

Use the search facility to check the rates applicable to an extensive list of goods and services.

Next: Zero rate of VAT