03/07/2026
On May 21st, 2026, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, made some announcements about reducing VAT on some items between the period of June 25th, 2026 and September 1st, 2026. This is to help not only businesses, but also to ease some of the burden on families during this peak period.
These measures form part of the Government’s “Great British Summer Savings” scheme, and the reduced 5% rate runs from 25/06/2026 to 01/09/2026 inclusive, right across the UK. The detailed rules are set out in Revenue and Customs Brief 5 (2026), and they fall into three main areas: children’s meals, children’s tickets, and family attractions.
The changes announced include the following items, and the guidelines are very strict. Read more here: https://www.ihelm-enterprises.co.uk/summer-2026-vat-reduction-announcements/