Value Added Tax Act 1994

Notes: U.K.

[F1 (1) Item 1 shall apply only if—

(a) the supply is a sale of goods donated to that charity or taxable person;

(b) the sale takes place as a result of the goods having been made available to the general public for purchase (whether in a shop or elsewhere); and

(c) the sale does not take place as a result of any arrangements (whether legally binding or not) which related to the goods and were entered into by each of the parties to the sale before the goods were made available to the general public.]

(2) “Animals” includes any species of the animal kingdom.

(3) “Relevant goods” means—

(a) medical, scientific, computer, video, sterilising, laboratory or refrigeration equipment for use in medical or veterinary research, training, diagnosis or treatment;

(b) ambulances;

(c) parts or accessories for use in or with goods described in paragraph (a) or (b) above;

(d) goods of a kind described in item 2 of Group 12 of this Schedule;

(e) motor vehicles (other than vehicles with more than 50 seats) designed or substantially and permanently adapted for the safe carriage of a handicapped person in a wheelchair provided that—

(i) in the case of vehicles with more than 16 but fewer than 27 seats, the number of persons for which such provision shall exist shall be at least 2;

(ii) in the case of vehicles with more than 26 but fewer than 37 seats, the number of persons for which such provision shall exist shall be at least 3;

(iii) in the case of vehicles with more than 36 but fewer than 47 seats, the number of persons for which such provision shall exist shall be at least 4;

(iv) in the case of vehicles with more than 46 seats, the number of persons for which such provision shall exist shall be at least 5;

(v) there is either a fitted electrically or hydraulically operated lift or, in the case of vehicles with fewer than 17 seats, a fitted ramp to provide access for a passenger in a wheelchair;

(f) motor vehicles (with more than 6 but fewer than 51 seats) for use by an eligible body providing care for blind, deaf, mentally handicapped or terminally sick persons mainly to transport such persons;

(g) telecommunication, aural, visual, light enhancing or heat detecting equipment (not being equipment ordinarily supplied for private or recreational use) solely for use for the purpose of rescue or first aid services undertaken by a charitable institution providing such services.

(4) “Eligible body” means—

(a) a [F2 Health Authority or Special Health Authority] in England and Wales;

(b) a Health Board in Scotland;

(c) a Health and Social Services Board in Northern Ireland;

(d) a hospital whose activities are not carried on for profit;

(e) a research institution whose activities are not carried on for profit;

(f) a charitable institution providing care or medical or surgical treatment for handicapped persons;

(g) the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service, the Northern Ireland Central Services Agency for Health and Social Services or the Isle of Man Health Services Board;

(h) a charitable institution providing rescue or first-aid services;

(i) a National Health Service trust established under Part I of the M1 National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 or the M2 National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978.

[F3 (4A) Subject to Note (5B), a charitable institution shall not be regarded as providing care or medical or surgical treatment for handicapped persons unless—

(a) it provides care or medical or surgical treatment in a relevant establishment; and

(b) the majority of the persons who receive care or medical or surgical treatment in that establishment are handicapped persons.

(4B) “Relevant establishment” means—

(a) a day-centre, other than a day-centre which exists primarily as a place for activities that are social or recreational or both; or

(b) an institution which is—

(i) approved, licensed or registered in accordance with the provisions of any enactment or Northern Ireland legislation; or

(ii) exempted by or under the provisions of any enactment or Northern Ireland legislation from any requirement to be approved, licensed or registered;

and in paragraph (b) above the references to the provisions of any enactment or Northern Ireland legislation are references only to provisions which, so far as relating to England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, have the same effect in every locality within that part of the United Kingdom.]

(5) “Handicapped” means chronically sick or disabled.

[F4 (5A) Subject to Note (5B), items 4 to 7 do not apply where the eligible body falls within Note (4)(f) unless the relevant goods are or are to be used in a relevant establishment in which that body provides care or medical or surgical treatment to persons the majority of whom are handicapped.

(5B) Nothing in Note (4A) or (5A) shall prevent a supply from falling within items 4 to 7 where—

(a) the eligible body provides medical care to handicapped persons in their own homes;

(b) the relevant goods fall within Note (3)(a) or are parts or accessories for use in or with goods described in Note (3)(a); and

(c) those goods are or are to be used in or in connection with the provision of that care.]

(6) Item 4 does not apply where the donee of the goods is not a charity and has contributed in whole or in part to the funds for the purchase of the goods.

(7) Item 5 does not apply where the body to whom the goods are supplied is not a charity and has contributed in whole or in part to the funds for the purchase of the goods.

(8) Items 6 and 7 do not apply unless—

(a) the supply is paid for with funds which have been provided by a charity or from voluntary contributions, and

(b) in a case where the owner of the goods repaired or maintained is not a charity, it has not contributed in whole or in part to those funds.

(9) Items 4 and 5 include the letting on hire of relevant goods; accordingly in items 4, 5 and 6 and the notes relating thereto, references to the purchase or ownership of goods shall be deemed to include references respectively to their hiring and possession.

(10) Item 5 includes computer services by way of the provision of computer software solely for use in medical research, diagnosis or treatment.

(11) In item 9—

(a) a “medicinal product” means any substance or article (not being an instrument, apparatus or appliance) which is for use wholly or mainly in either or both of the following ways—

(i) by being administered to one or more human beings or animals for a medicinal purpose;

(ii) as an ingredient in the preparation of a substance or article which is to be administered to one or more human beings or animals for a medicinal purpose;

(b) a “medicinal purpose” has the meaning assigned to it by section 130(2) of the M3 Medicines Act 1968;

(c) “administer” has the meaning assigned to it by section 130(9) of the Medicines Act 1968;

(12) In items 9 and 10 “substance” and “ingredient” have the meanings assigned to them by section 132 of the Medicines Act 1968.

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 8 Group 15 Note (1) substituted (19.3.1997 with effect as mentioned in s. 33(2) of the amending Act) by S.I. 1997 c. 16, s. 33(1)(2)

F2 Words in Sch. 8 Group 15 Note (4)(a) substituted (28.6.1995 for certain purposes otherwise 1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1), 4(2), 8(1), Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 127

F3 Sch. 8 Group 15 Notes (4A)(4B) inserted (19.3.1997 with effect as mentioned in s. 34(3) of the amending Act) by S.I. 1997 c. 16, s. 34(1)(3)

F4 Sch. 8 Group 15 Note (5A)(5B) inserted (19.3.1997 with effect as mentioned in s. 34(3) of the amending Act) by S.I. 1997 c. 16, s. 34(2)(3)

Marginal Citations

M1 1990 c. 19.

M2 1978 c. 29.

M3 1968 c. 67.