What is VAT?

Saturday, 20 July 2019 09:00

Value Added Tax (VAT) is a tax on goods and services in the UK.

The standard rate of VAT is currently 20%.

Some items are exempt from VAT, including postage stamps, financial and property transactions.  

VAT exemptions

If purchasing goods in the UK, you may want to contact the seller before you make a payment. They may remove or zero-rate the tax, but they are not obliged to.

Jersey's Government is unable to process VAT refunds on goods bought in the UK.

Goods delivered from the UK may be able to have VAT removed. This is available when:  

  • buying goods from a UK business registered for VAT and having them sent to your Jersey address  

  • buying goods from the UK via the internet or mail order 

The UK Government has confirmed that Jersey is outside the VAT area.

At the moment, there is no way to claim VAT back from the UK Government that has been charged to you in error, unless you are a business that is registered for VAT. 

For any further information on VAT reclaims, contact Trading Standards by calling 448160 or by emailing tradingstandards@gov.je

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