Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support his Department provides to help (a) hair and (b) beauty businesses with VAT rates.

This question was answered on 18th April 2024

VAT is the UK’s third largest tax forecast to raise £176 billion in 2024/25, helping to fund key spending priorities, such as the NHS, education and defence.

The Government recognises that VAT can disproportionately impact particular sectors, including the hair and beauty sector. However, VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Any request for a new VAT relief, such as in the form of a reduced rate, should be viewed in the context of over £50 billion of requests the Government has received since the EU referendum.