VAT exemption on Bathroom

[Shadowboxes]

I’ve had a quote today from a bathroom supplier to take out our bath and put a walk in shower. Since being diagnosed with PMR about 3 weeks ago and not using the bath this year I decided it was time to upgrade the shower and get rid of the bath. The sales man said you fill out a form stating your condition and will save the VAT. Has anyone else experienced this ? Any saving is worth it plus I just turned 60 three weeks ago so get free prescriptions. At least some positives after the shock of it all.

[Rose54]

Hi

It’s only if your chronically sick or disabled heres jwhat the Government web site says

What HMRC means by ‘chronically sick or disabled’

For VAT purposes, you’re chronically sick or disabled if you have a:

physical or mental impairment which has a long term and substantial adverse effect on your ability to carry out everyday activities

condition that the medical profession treats as a chronic sickness (that’s a long term health condition)

For VAT purposes, the term ‘chronically sick or disabled’ does not include a person who’s only temporarily disabled or incapacitated, for example with a broken limb or someone who’s elderly but is not chronically sick or disabled.

You do not need HMRC’s permission to declare that you’re disabled or chronically sick and our advisers cannot tell you if you’re disabled or chronically sick.

If you’re not sure if your condition means you’re chronically sick or disabled you may wish to speak to your GP

Hope this helps

[Shadowboxes in reply to Rose54]

Thank you for the information.

[Karil]

I was diagnosed with PMR in late 2016 and had to take ill health retirement from work, I had the bath replaced with a walk in shower (best thing I did as I couldn’t get out of the bath) and claimed VAT exemption on the grounds of chronic illness, which it was and still is. Hope this helps.

[Shadowboxes in reply to Karil]

Thank you I was unsure if PMR was classed as chronic but prior to me starting Prednisolone stepping up 10” into the shower and out was very painful. Our bath is over 50 years old cast iron. So bath out and a bigger walk in shower is needed. This won’t get done until July though. Thank you for your response.

[random901 in reply to Shadowboxes]

Useful information, thank you. The bath is a happy dream of the past ...

[Thiago1396 in reply to random901]

I bought and installed a Molly Bather bath lift. I do enjoy a regular bath.

[Pixix]

I looked into ‘not paying VAT’ when a motorhome company advised me to buy one, have it slightly modified for my disabilities & chronic illnesses, & he would put it through with noVAT. Very tempting indeed. We had only inherited a smaller amount of money & couldn’t afford the one we wanted. I looked into it, & I was not eligible. I was registered disabled by then (this is years before I had symptoms & diagnosis of PMR). The guy was just after the sale, & was willing to do something illegal to get it, basically, & didn’t mind if we ended up being taken to court & fined. My understanding is that PMRgets better for us, goes into remission, so can’t get VAT free goods of an item which could help, as we won’t need it lifelong. I suffer from 11 diseases, most of which will not improve. PMR responds to steroids, & improves. I’d be very careful & take advice. If you go that route & you’re not eligible, I believe you can get charged the VAT any time in the future, & be charged it, taken to court & fined etc. We changed our bath last year…& paid the VAT. I think, if it was OK lots of people here would have had modifications done!! IF you are chronically sick & believe that your PMR will never improve, OK, but then if it gets better….you will be liable for that VAT charge. That was my understanding. I’d talk to your GP, & see if you are considered temporarily disabled & chronically sick, but expect to recover from that position, or permanently disabled & chronically sick. Those two things are very different from each other!!

[Shadowboxes in reply to Pixix]

Ok thanks will definitely look into it.

[ElizabethQueen]

I have PMR and GCA, we are looking into bathroom improvements to help with the condition also considering changing the toilet to a higher one. Using the disabled loos when out is so much easier and less painful. Have looked at the Government website for guidance on exemption but doesn’t list specific conditions I expect there’s too many.

When buying we’ll have to fill in a declaration, which we’ll do and go from there.

[S4ndy]

Yes! I had my bathroom converted to a wet room and as it was done for health reasons I completed the VAT medical exemption form. I've also done this for purchases of walking aids and daily living aids even via Amazon. With any long term conditions you would be entitled to save the 20% vat on medical necessities. So remember to fill out an exemption form when you buy stuff.

[Booch]

i prefer a hot bath with epsom salts to a shower any day. one year into PMR

[Maryis80 in reply to Booch]

I agree. We invested in a battery driven seat for the bath which is good. Only problem is you need to fill the bath with water to get shoulders covered. Much better than a shower any day.

[Poshcards]

If it is for you then yes it will apply, a few years ago I had a bigger radiator put in my bedroom as I feel the cold because of my chronic illness, I queried the vat, downloaded a form from the gov.uk site and gave it to the plumbing company, no vat was paid x

[Tiggy70]

we’ve recently changed our ensuite shower room into a wet room as we have had numerous issues with leaking shower trays over the years. We’ve had a higher toilet, shower seat and grab rails installed. Our plumber suggested we apply for VAT exemption because of my PMR. We filled in the forms and the plumber did the rest. So far so good!