VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Personal Care Services: VAT

Asked by Manuela PerteghellaLiberal DemocratTreasuryTabled Answered 12 December 2024UIN 17940

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to reduce the VAT (a) rate and (b) threshold for businesses that provide personal care services.

Answered by James Murray

VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government took a number of difficult but necessary decisions on tax, welfare, and spending to fix the public finances, fund public services, and restore economic stability.

At £90,000, the UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD. This means the majority of UK businesses are out of the VAT system. Any consideration of changes to the threshold would have to carefully balance the potential benefits to small businesses, the economy as a whole, and tax revenues.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim