All Care Designs branded products are eligible for VAT relief for people who are considered chronically sick or disabled in the UK. Any other products that are eligible will be clearly labelled on our website.
What products are eligible for VAT relief?
For a product to be eligible for VAT relief they need to be designed and manufactured solely to help people with disabilities. The HMRC states that "equipment that has been designed solely for people with a disability, chronic or terminal illness or on the adaptation of equipment so they can use it can be VAT exempt".
Please note that postage is not exempt from VAT.
Who is eligible?
If you have a disability or long-term illness, you may be eligible for VAT relief on products that are designed or adapted for your personal or domestic use.
To qualify, your condition must meet the government’s specific criteria:
- You have a physical or mental impairment that significantly affects your ability to carry out everyday activities (e.g. blindness).
- You have a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes.
- You are terminally ill.
Please note that VAT relief does not apply if you are elderly but not disabled, or if your condition is only temporary.
Full details can be found on HMRC website - Notice 701-7 VAT relief for disabled people or call HMRC’s advice line on 0300 200 3700. Please check eligibility as this is legally binding and there are penalties for false declaration.
How Prices are Displayed
When viewing our products, eligible items will show:
- Price with VAT - the standard price including 20% VAT
- Price without VAT - what you pay if you declare VAT exemption
- "Am I VAT exempt?" option - click Yes to purchase at the VAT-free price
Once you've selected VAT exemption on a product, your basket and checkout will show the VAT-free price.
Non-Eligible Items will show:
- Price with VAT - the standard price including 20% VAT
Your basket and checkout will show the VAT-Inc price.
How do I claim VAT exemption for products in my order?
1. Ordering online
a. Browse our website and find the product you wish to buy. If it's a VAT exempt product, you'll see an option on the product page asking: " I am VAT exempt?"
b. Click Yes to proceed with VAT exemption and the VAT exempt price.
c. Add them to your basket.
d. Repeat until you have added all the items you wish to buy.
e. Next move to the cart you will be asked if you qualify for VAT exemption. Please select Yes and then complete the details in the box asking for the Name, Address and Medical condition of the person claiming exemption. These details will be recorded against your online order. No VAT will be added to your order for the products that are VAT exemptible.
f. Move through to the Checkout and complete delivery details and pay for the order.
g. Once we receive your order, we check all the details before sending it off to our warehouse. If a mistake has been made, e.g. you have chosen VAT exempt products but not supplied details of the person we will contact you to get the necessary details before proceeding with picking of the order.
2. Telephone order
If you want to place an order over the phone, please call 01223 676096 and we can take all the details and process the order for you so no VAT will be charged on the exempt products in your order. Specifically, you will be asked to declare that you or the person you are purchasing the item for are eligible for VAT relief. You will also be asked to give full name and the medical condition of the person who qualifies for VAT relief. These details will be recorded against your online order.
3. Mail Order
When ordering by post you will need to complete a separate VAT exemption form that we will send or email to you. A paper copy of your order and the VAT exemption form are kept in case HMRC wish to check our records.
Important Information
Care Designs is required to keep a record of all customers who have qualified for VAT relief, their names, addresses, and qualifying medical condition and present this information to HRMC if requested.
Please note that it is an offence to falsely claim that you or the person you are buying for is eligible for VAT Relief.
