The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on children’s meals from 20% to 5% for the period 25 June to 1 September 2026, as part of the Great British summer savings scheme. Pubs and restaurants are already devising menus to take advantage of the discount, while industry leaders criticize the measure as a token gesture. The scheme also applies to cinema and theatre tickets and family attractions, with an estimated cost to the Treasury of £10.5 bn to £13 bn.
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The Independent · about 3 hours ago
The UK government will remove VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October 2026, cutting the rate from 5% to 0%. The change is expected to save households around £45 a year and will be funded by cancelling the Digital ID programme.
The Independent · about 5 hours ago
In the UK, the government announced an £850 million tax cut on energy bills, making electricity bills VAT free from 1 October 2026 in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland remains exempt because EU VAT rates apply under the Windsor Framework, preventing the cut from applying there.
BBC · about 10 hours ago
UK VAT will be cut from household electricity bills from 1 October, reducing the rate from 5% to zero and saving households about £45 a year. The cut is funded by savings from scrapping the digital ID programme and will apply to England, Scotland and Wales, with equivalent funding for Northern Ireland.
The Independent · about 10 hours ago
UK households will see 5% VAT removed from electricity bills from 1 October 2026, a move announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The change is expected to save about £45 on a typical annual bill, though a projected 3.1% rise in the price cap may offset the benefit.
Yahoo News Canada · about 14 hours ago
The United Kingdom will see VAT on household electricity removed from 5% to 0% on 1 October, saving typical homes around £45 a year.
Law360 · about 14 hours ago
UK court rules that Staffing Co cannot recover input VAT because its director knew or should have known its supply chain was compromised by fraud. The decision underscores the importance of due diligence in supply chain management for VAT recovery.
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Key Takeaways
It starts on 25 June 2026 and ends on 1 September 2026.
The rate drops from 20% to 5% for meals served to customers under 18.
No, there is no obligation to check IDs; the discount applies automatically to meals for customers under 18.
The Treasury estimates the cost to be between £10.5 bn and £13 bn.
Cinema and theatre tickets, and family attractions also receive the 20% to 5% VAT reduction.
Primary source
Read the full article at GuardianThis summary was published on VATfaqs.com on 17 June 2026. It relates to VAT developments in United Kingdom. The original source is Guardian.
