Do you charge VAT on Post & Packaging?

Slash

Registered User
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329
If a company is sending a product by post, and charging the Customer for P&P, does it charge VAT on the P&P, and, if so, at what rate?

Thanks.
 
I'm not 100% on this but my understanding is:

If you are passing on the exact cost of the postage directly to the customer then there is no need to charge VAT as it is regarded as outlay

If however you are charging a different amount to the cost to you then you have to charge VAT.

AFAIK the rate is the Standard (21%) rate

I am very open to correction here though
 

I've seen a number of situations on invoices where some suppliers do charge and others don't charge VAT on P&P however the above reasoning makes sense.