Did you know that as a plumbing and heating company, there are certain circumstances when you can charge 5% VAT?  This applies with the installation of many energy saving products, however there is criteria to be met. The information in the article was correct at the time of writing, but we recommend you check before you apply the reduction to your installations as conditions could change. You can find the most up to date information here for traders and here for consumers . In order for the consumer to qualify, they must not install the product themselves. That’s where you come in… The discount applies to residential installations and covers products such as: controls for central heating and hot water systems draught stripping, for example insulation fixed around windows and doors to reduce draughts insulation on walls, floors, ceilings and lofts solar panels ground-source heat pumps air-source heat pumps micro combined heat and power units wood-fuelled boilers Not all inst...

Are you a builder, plumber, renewables engineer, gas engineer or another installer of energy saving materials? This article will help you understand the basics of how the reduced rate of VAT could apply to you, your business and your customers! Many people aren’t aware that if they are installing energy-saving materials, they may be reduced-rated for VAT purposes, even if the installation is grant funded! HMRC defines three social policy conditions. If all three are met, then the whole supply of materials and installation of energy saving materials becomes subject to a reduced VAT rate of 5%.  The three social policy conditions are: Supply to a “qualifying person” i.e. a person who is aged 60 or over or received one of the following benefits: Child tax credit Council tax benefit Disability living allowance Disablement pension Housing benefit Income based jobseeker’s allowance Income support War disablement pension Working tax credit Supply to a “relevant housing association” as ...

Are you a builder, electrician, Gas Safe installer, renewables engineer or a Ref.com registered installer, repairer or supplier of air conditioning units? Did you know that air conditioning units are eligible for reduced rate VAT if they’re supplied for a qualifying use? Here we will explain the basics of how the reduced rate of VAT could apply to you, your business and your customers! The government is keen to encourage energy efficiency as part of the Climate Change Programme and the Kyoto Protocol. With residential properties accountable for a quarter of all energy emissions, the only way for the UK to meet its obligations under Kyoto is for the government to encourage the uptake of lower cost, energy-saving solutions, including air source heat pumps and other air conditioning and refrigeration units. HMRC has decided that one way to help consumers make the right choice is to provide a tax incentive in the form of reduced VAT on modern air conditioning and refrigeration units, su...