If you supply food and non-alcoholic beverages for consumption on your premises, for example, a restaurant, café or pub, you’re currently required to charge VAT at the standard rate of 20%.

Is VAT payable on a pub purchase?

Pub sales are often advertised as a “Transfer of a Going Concern” (TOGC) to avoid hefty VAT bills on the purchase price, but there are specific requirements for this benefit (including that both parties are VAT registered and may involve opting to tax the pub) and these will need to be considered.

How much VAT does a pub pay?

Tax Rates. There are four rates of VAT: Standard rated -20%, has been reduced temporarily on food sales (and accommodation, if you provide letting rooms) to 5% until January 2021, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. You should note it does not apply to sales of alcohol.

What is the VAT on restaurant food?

Value added tax, or VAT is a tax that vendors like restaurants pay on sales at a rate of 20 percent in normal times. Chancellor Rishi Sunak introduced a U.K. VAT cut to 5 percent on food as part of coronavirus support for businesses in July last year — a reduction which is scheduled to expire on 31 March this year.

Do you pay VAT on drinks in a pub?

Therefore, ALL alcohol sales remain subject to the regular 20% VAT. But pubs and restaurants will still benefit from the 5% reduction upon sale of any food or soft drinks they sell on the premises, and any hot food or hot drinks sold to takeaway.

How long is the 5 VAT for?

General description of the measure The government announced at Budget 2021 that the temporary reduced rate will be extended for a further six-month period at 5% until 30 September 2021. A new reduced rate of 12.5% will then be introduced which will end on 31 March 2022. The scope of the relief will remain unchanged.

Do you have to pay VAT on takeaway food?

Cold takeaway food and drink is zero-rated, as long as it’s not of a type that’s always standard-rated (such as potato crisps, sweets and some beverages including bottled water). Hot takeaway drinks are standard-rated (or temporarily reduced rated as long as they are non-alcoholic).

While most food is zero-rated, the food and drinks which are sold across restaurants, pubs and other culinary establishments must include a VAT of 20% to the customer’s bill.

What is the profit margin in a pub?

For a London pub or bar, Euroboozer states that gross profit has to be in the region of 70% in order to be sustainable. The Rake was making a 66% gross profit margin on the Cloudwater beer. On the other hand, there needs to be a balance in order to not alienate or annoy the consumer.

How much does a pub turn over inclusive of VAT?

A client intends to purchase a small country public house which they say has three component businesses. No decision has yet been taken about whether to trade as a limited company or partnership. The pub itself turns over £4,000 a week inclusive of VAT; purchases inclusive of VAT are £2,000 per week.

What is the current VAT rate for hospitality?

The standard VAT rate is 20%, but a reduced rate of 5% currently applies to hospitality businesses. This temporary 5% VAT rate applies from Wednesday 15 July 2020 until 30 September 2021.

Is the VAT on food and drink always 20%?

VAT on Food and Drink Catering is always subject to VAT at 20% (or the temporary 5% reduced rate). So when an order meets HMRC’s criteria for catering, it is standard rated. This is true even if the underlying food or drinks are usually zero rated.

When do VAT rates go back to 20%?

The standard VAT rate is 20%, but a reduced rate of 5% currently applies to hospitality businesses. This temporary 5% VAT rate applies from Wednesday 15 July 2020 until 30 September 2021. A new temporary rate of 12.5% applies from 01 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. On 01 April 2022, the standard rate will revert to 20%.