Disability VAT Exemption

If you have recently become disabled or are for the first time in the position of having to purchase products designed or adapted to help you in your disability, then you may well be wondering what financial relief exists here in the United Kingdom. The good news is that there is significant financial help available provided that you and the products you are purchasing qualify.

With this being such crucial information for any disabled people, Premier Care in Bathing have put together this handy guide which tells you what relief is available to you and how you can go about obtaining it.

What Sort of Services or Products are Available?

There is a certain amount of common sense involved with determining what products are classed as vital to helping disabled individuals, but they include such articles as:

• Wheelchairs
• Household enhancements such as widening of doors, lifts, toilets and ramps
• Adjustable beds
• Medicine
• Braille or sight aids (but not spectacles, reading glasses or contact lenses)
• Stair Lifts
• Motability/Vehicles specially designed for the disabled (Mobility Products)

The vendor you choose for your equipment will be able to tell you if the items you are purchasing are covered, but as you can see from the list above, it is quite easy to see what is and what isn’t deemed as essential.

How Do I Know If My Disability Is Covered?

Like many things that are exempt from VAT, there are strict guidelines as to what is classed as being disabled or having a long-term illness. In order for you to get your products VAT free then it is essential that your condition qualifies or you will be forced to pay the full amount.

The following criteria are pretty definitive when it comes to working out whether your condition qualifies you for disability VAT exemption;

• You are terminally ill
• You have a mental or physical impairment that affects your ability to complete daily activities. For example, deafness
• You have a chronic condition (or chronic sickness) such as diabetes

Unfortunately you do not automatically qualify if you are elderly if you are still able bodied and temporary disability is also not valid.

How Do I Submit My Disability Information?

When you go to purchase your services or products to help with your condition, you will be required to submit your disability information in writing in order to make your submission legal and binding.

It goes without saying that you are completely honest when filling out this literature otherwise you run the risk of committing fraud and the paying the consequences of this legally. The supplier of the products you are looking to purchase will give you a form to fill out and send to the powers that be.

Can I Get Help Installing My Mobility Products?

If you have no friends or family to help you adapt your home or if you can’t afford to make your home suitable, then there is an option available to you. If you have no choice or options whatsoever, then you can apply to your local council for help and the Gov.Uk site is a great resource for anyone looking for more information regarding this course of action.

What If I Find More Suitable Mobility Products Abroad?

There is an interesting and rather helpful disability VAT exemption guideline for anyone who finds more suitable mobility products abroad, as importing goods can also be exempt. If these products are strictly for personal or domestic use, then you will not have to pay any tax on these.

What’s more, a freight service can often help you with this process and ensure that the required disability information is clearly labelled on the parcel. The exact message should read: “Goods for Disabled People: Relief Claimed”.

If you are able to actually bring these products into the country yourself, then you simply declare them at the red channel at your respective customs centre as normal. If you are bringing your mobility products into the UK via a method not listed above then you simply need to contact the National Import Reliefs Unit. Their contact details are:

National Import Reliefs Unit

Tel: 028 6634 4557

Monday to Friday (8am - 4pm)

We hope that this guide to disability exemption has been of use to you and you are able to make the savings you deserve on your mobility products. Many people miss out on Disability VAT Exemption due to the fact they simply don’t know it exists, so be sure to take full advantage and make your home as suitable as possible for your disability.

If you enjoyed this feature, why not take a look around the rest of the Premier Care in Bathing blog? We have news and advice for everyone from rehabilitating soldiers to elderly people and individuals with Parkinson’s, all of which can take advantage of the fantastic disability-friendly baths, low-level showers and wet room showers available here at Premier Care in Bathing. If you like the look of any of the products we offer, you can order online today or call us free of charge on 0800 280 0239.

Alternatively, why not request a high-quality brochure so you can take a look through the Premier Bathrooms range at your leisure?