Most of the time VAT is straightforward – a product or service either has VAT added (standard-rated), such as ice cream, air fryers, and TVs, or there’s no VAT added (zero-rated), such as a bag of potatoes, books, and baby clothes.
So we understand why the variable VAT rating that lots of our products enjoy can cause some head-scratching. If a product has been specifically designed for a person with sight loss – for example, a long cane, a liquid level indicator, or a braille frame – and you either have sight loss or are buying it for someone with sight loss, you do not have to pay VAT on it. (Make sure you tick the VAT exemption box on the product page before you add it to your basket. You will need to add the name of the person who is VAT exempt when you checkout.)
If you do not have sight loss and you’re not buying the product for someone with sight loss (perhaps you’re really taken with the simplicity of our talking microwave, for example), then you must pay VAT.
