Skip links

UK 20% tourism & hospitality VAT rate returns 1st Apr 2022

COVID-19 hospitality VAT rate cut introduced in July 2020 now withdrawn

The UK temporary Value Added Tax rate cut on hospitaliy and tourism  has now ended, with the sector now returning the standard VAT rate of 20%. The pandemic cut to support hotels, catering and hospitality operated over to phases:

  1. 5% between 15 July 2020 and 30 September 2021 (an extension from the planned 12 January 2021 withdrawal); and
  2. 12.5% 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2022. It has now returned to 20%

Sign-up for VAT Calc’s FREE global VAT and GST news e-mail updates.

What UK tourism and hospitality services benefited from the VAT cut?

Restaurants; cafes; pubs (ex alcohol); hospitality; hotels; B&B’s; home rental; caravan and tent sites; hot take away food; theatres; fairs; circuses; amusement parks; concerts; museums; zoos; cinemas; studio or factory tours; botanical gardens; exhibitions; and similar cultural events and facilities. The reduction only applied on entrance fees to the attractions listed; not other supplies provided during the visits such as souvenirs.

Note: served alcoholic drinks did not benefit from the cut. It excluded entry into sporting events.

Services subjected to tourism VAT reduction per HMRC:

  • sleeping accommodation in:
    • hotels;
    • inns; and
    • boarding houses and similar establishments;
  • granting of a license to occupy holiday accommodation and charges for:
    • seasonal pitches for caravans, including supplies of facilities provided in relation to the occupation of the pitches; and
    • pitches for tents and camping facilities;
  • hot and cold food for consumption on the premises on which they are supplied;
  • hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises on which they are supplied;
  • hot takeaway food for consumption off the premises on which they are supplied; and
  • hot takeaway non-alcoholic beverages for consumption off the premises on which they are supplied.

Countries such as the Germany, Lithuania and the Belgium are now in the process of withdrawing their tourism and hospitality VAT rate cuts introduced during COVID-19 crisis.

Future global VAT / GST changes

Date Country VAT / GST  changes (click for details)
Contact VATCalc to learn how our single VAT determination, reporting and e-invoicing platform can help you manage global compliance change
2024 Europe 2024 European VAT & Intrastat thresholds
1 Jan 2024 EU DAC7 first marketplace reports due
1 Jan 2024 Belgium VAT return rule changes
1 Jan 2024 Belgium Marketplace joint VAT liabilities
1 Jan 2024 Luxembourg VAT rate returns to 17%
1 Jan 2024 Switzerland VAT rises to 8.1%
1 Jan 2024 Liechtenstein VAT rate increase
1 Jan 2024 Germany Restaurant and catering temporary VAT cut to 7% ends
1 Jan 2024 UK Platform operators obligations
1 Jan 2024 Ireland E-books VAT reduced to 0%
1 Jan 2024 Ireland Increase in VAT registration threshold
1 Jan 2024 Italy Mirco businesses join SdI e-invoicing
1 Jan 2024 Spain Basic foods temporary VAT rate cut ends
1 Jan 2024 Greece Ends COVID-19 temporary reduced rates
1 Jan 2024 Denmark Digital bookkeeping requirements including SAF-T
1 Jan 2024 Luxembourg Reverse charge on electronics, mobile phones, precious metals
1 Jan 2024 Poland Intrastat 2024 rises
1 Jan 2024 Finland Reduced VAT rate changes
1 Jan 2024 Greece ERP API-based invoice reporting
1 Jan 2024 Czech Proposed consolidation of reduced VAT rates
1 Jan 2024 Hungary eVAT digital ledgers and pre-filled VAT returns
1 Jan 2024 Slovakia IS EFA e-invoicing for B2B and B2C
1 Jan 2024 Bulgaria Increase in VAT registration thresholds
1 Jan 2024 Romania Invoice digital reporting
1 Jan 2024 Romania Reduced VAT rate increases
1 Jan 2024 Malta New 12% VAT rate
1 Jan 2024 Lithuania VAT registration threshold rises to €65,000
1 Jan 2024 Latvia VAT registration threshold rises to €50,000
1 Jan 2024 Estonia 2% VAT rise
1 Jan 2024 Israel VAT on B2C digital services by foreign providers
1 Jan 2024 Saudi Arabia 6th wave of B2B mandatory e-invoicing
1 Jan 2024 Kenya Pre-filled VAT returns introduced
1 Jan 2024 Zambia E-invoicing introduction
1 Jan 2024 Lebanon VAT increase to 15%
1 Jan 2024 Sri Lanka VAT rise to 18%
1 Jan 2024 Mauritius Mandatory pre-clearance e-invoicing
1 Jan 2024 Malaysia Serve Tax rise
1 Jan 2024 Malaysia 10% Sales Tax on low value consignment imports
1 Jan 2024 Philippines Mandatory e-invoicing for all taxpayers
1 Jan 2024 SIngapore Rise of GST to 9% to 2024
1 Jan 2024 Laos 3% VAT increase
1 Jan 2024 Canada 3% Digital Services Tax
1 Jan 2024 Colombia 5% Digital Services Tax introduced
1 Jan 2024 Aruba Implements 12.5% VAT
15 Jan 2024 Dominican Republic 1st wave of mandatory e-invoicing
1 Feb 2024 Saudi Arabia Seventh wave of mandated e-invoicing
1 Feb 2024 Bolivia 4th wave of e-invoicing
1 Mar 2024 Austria SAF-T reboot
1 Mar 2024 Germany End of domestic fuel VAT cut
1 Mar 2024 Saudi Arabia 8th wave of e-invoice mandate
1 Mar 2024 Bolivia 5th wave of e-invoicing mandate
1 Apr 2024 Greece myData live invoice reporting via ERPs
1 Apr 2024 Israel mandatory pre-clearance e-invoicing
1 Apr 2024 New Zealand 15% GST on gig and sharing economies digital platforms
1 Apr 2024 Japan Marketplace deemed supplier obligations e-commerce
1 Apr 2024 Bolivia Sixth wave of B2B e-invoicing
1 May 2024 Cyprus Temporary VAT cut on essentials ends
1 May 2024 Uruguay End of reduced VAT rate on tourism
1 Jun 2024 Saudi Arabia 9th wave of e-invoicing
1 Jul 2024 Spain Certified electronic invoice software
1 Jul 2024 Poland Mandated e-invoicing introduced
1 Jul 2024 Romania Full mandatory B2B e-invoicing
1 Jul 2024 Slovakia VAT registration threshold rise
1 Jul 2024 Vietnam 2% temporary VAT cut ends
1 Jul 2024 Bhutan Implementation of VAT
1 Aug 2024 Malaysia Mandatory B2B e-invoicing
1 Oct 2024 Thailand VAT rise to 10%
1 Oct 2024 Oman Mandatory e-invoicing
1 Nov 2024 Ireland End of temporary VAT cut on energy
2025
1 Jan 2025 EU Single VAT Registration in the EU - extension of OSS
1 Jan 2025 EU Marketplaces deemed supplier for EU sellers' VAT
1 Jan 2025 EU Accommodation & travel platforms deemed supplier for VAT
1 Jan 2025 EU EU IOSS mandated for marketplaces
1 Jan 2025 EU Call-off stock VAT simplification ends
1 Jan 2025 EU Harmonisation of B2B Reverse Charge rules
1 Jan 2025 EU Increased VAT rate setting freedoms
1 Jan 2025 EU VAT rate thresholds change foreign companies
1 Jan 2025 EU EU VAT rule changes on cross-border virtual events
1 Jan 2025 Sweden VAT registration threshold rise
1 Jan 2025 Germany Structured E-invoicing adoption
1 Jan 2025 Greece Potential e-invoice mandate
1 Jan 2025 Portugal Food VAT rate cut ends
1 Jan 2025 Portugal SAF-T Accounting becomes mandatory
1 Jan 2025 Portugal Qualified Electronic Signature mandatory
1 Jan 2025 Latvia B2B e-invoices mandated
1 Jan 2025 Estonia Accommodation and press publication VAT rise
Jan 2025? Estonia Suppliers must offer customers e-invoicing option
1 Jan 2025 Romania Final wave of SAF-T taxpayers
1 Jan 2025 Bulgaria Phased introduction of SAF-T
1 Jan 2025 Ukraine SAF-T for large taxpayers
1 Jan 2025 Switzerland Deemed supplier for marketplaces on goods
1 Jan 2025 Kazakhstan Proposed VAT rise to 16%
1 Jan 2025 Japan Consumption Tax on non-resident app stores
1 Jan 2025 Indonesia VAT rate to rise 1% to 12%
1 Jan 2025 Malaysia 2nd phase of e-invoices mandate
1 Jan 2025 New Zealand 3% Digital Services Tax
15 Jan 2025 Dominican Republic 2nd wave of mandatory e-invoicing
1 Jul 2025 Spain Potential mandatory B2B e-invoicing
1 Jul 2025 Poland Food VAT rate cut ends
1 Jul 2025 Malaysia 3rd phase of e-invoicing mandate
1 July 2025 UAE B2B E-invoicing phase 1
2026
1 Jan 2026 EU DAC8 harmonised crypto asset reporting
1 Jan 2026 Belgium Peppol-based mandatory B2B e-invoices
1 Jan 2026 Croatia Mandatory B2B e-invoicing
1 Jan 2026 Brazil VAT implementation begins
15 Jan 2026 Dominican Republic 3rd wave of mandatory e-invoicing
1 July 2026 UAE B2B e-invoicing phase 2
1 Sept 2026 France E-invoice and e-reporting for B2B and B2C
2027
1 Jan 2027 Germany Large companies e-invoicing compulsory
1 Jan 2027 Ukraine SAF-T for all taxpayers
1 Sep 2027 France Phase 2 mandatory e-invoicing
2028
1 Jan 2028 Germany Small companies e-invoicing
Jan 2028 EU EU Customs reforms
1 Mar 2028 EU €150 import consignment threshold removed
2030
1 Jan 2030 EU Digital Reporting Requirements including e-invoicing harmonisation
1 Jan 2030 EU Structured e-invoices supersede paper invoices
1 Jan 2030 EU EC Sales lists replaced by Digital Reporting Requirements

Newsletter

Get our latest news right in your mailbox