It doesn’t make sense that air vests, which are clearly safety equipment, should be subject to UK VAT when other items, like helmets, are not.
IAM Roadsmart have started a petition. Every biker should sign it, I’d say.
Are you sure that air vests should be encouraged?
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I’ve signed it cheers, although it would be interesting to see how the consumer will realise the saving
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I’ve signed it but think they’ve dropped a bollock as IMO all motorcycling clothing that’s CE rated should be zero rated too
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If they remove the VAT people don’t immediately see a 20% price drop there will be questions to be answered when the whole point is to make them more affordable.
Petition response from HM Treasury:
Whilst there are currently no plans to remove VAT on motorcycle air vests, the Government remains committed to ensuring the safety of motorcyclists. For example, motorcycle helmets, which satisfy the requirements of regulation 8(2) of the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002, are zero-rated for VAT. Further information can be found here: Protective equipment (VAT Notice 701/23): Protective equipment (VAT Notice 701/23) - GOV.UK.
VAT has been designed as a broad-based tax on consumption, and the twenty per cent standard rate applies to the vast majority of goods and services, including motorcycle air vests. While there are exceptions to the standard rate, these have always been strictly limited by both legal and fiscal considerations.
VAT is the UK’s third largest tax forecast to raise £173.3 billion in 2023/24, helping to fund key spending priorities such as important public services, including the NHS, education and defence.
The Government keeps all taxes under review and welcomes representations to help inform future decisions on tax policy, as part of the tax policy making cycle and Budget process.
HM Treasury
What a surprise.