VAT, Cake and other ties

[Jaxom]

If that happened we would be going down the same road as America. One price listed on the goods and a second charged at the till. When I go to America it drives me mad. You think you have done a running total in your head as you shop only to be poleaxed at the checkout. In this country all VAT is 17.5% In America they have different rates of Tax for various items so you have to know which tax bracket it comes under to make an estimate of the final price.
Here in the UK there is no VAT on children’s clothes but there is tax on them in America.
The only draw back here in the UK is when children can’t get into children’s sizes and have to buy adults clothes. VAT is then liable.
At least if it says £15 on the garment label. That is the price you pay at the checkout.

[sewer rat]

Not sure how the vagaries of the UK VAT system came to be running on a thread about a shed being nicked but................It used to be called H.M.Customs and Excise but since the recent takeover, sorry I mean merger with Inland Revenue, the UK tax authority is called H.M.Revenue and Customs.
As to what is or is not taxable, that is not a decision made by the tax authority, either old or new - these are decided by the Government in power at the time, and in certain cases by the EU.

[Squirrel]

Yes Rat - I did wonder how we got onto the vat system myself when we were originally talking about sheds! I know I got quite irate when the vat and cake situation came up which has probably helped to extend the off-subject line!

[Jaxom]

Now people can talk about VAT with out it being off topic. enjoy.

[Squirrel]

What's the betting no one will use it now!

[Jaxom]

If they don't then at least it won't be taking the shed theft topic into the relms of Excise and Junk food.

[Geordie]

Milkshakes from Mcd's are vat free but only if you take them away to drink

[Jaxom]

Milkshakes from Mcd's are vat free but only if you take them away to drink

It's to do with the fact that only hot and cooked but now cold food is VAT liable. Raw food is exempt. Salads would also be exempt unless there was an element of cooked items in the salad too, such as croutons, boiled egg or sliced chicken.
However if you sit down in the restaurant, raw food counts as part of the personal service element related to hot food and becomes VAT liable.
When I write “personal service”, I am referring to the cleaning of tables and the provision of counter staff who sometimes deliver slow items to you at the table.