0% VAT on Solar Panels and Heat Pumps (November 2024)

Amidst unfavourable events such as the energy price crisis, Russia waged war on Ukraine, and the subsequent insecurities of the global energy market, the UK government has released the Spring Statement 2022, which places huge focus, among other initiatives, on helping households with rising energy bills.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced cutting VAT from five per cent to zero upon installing energy-efficient systems such as solar panels, heat pumps and insulation. According to him, “A family having a solar panel installed will see tax savings worth over £1,000 and savings on their energy bill of over £300 per year."

On the 11th of December, 2023, the Government disclosed the outcomes of their solicited information. They declared that the assortment of ESMs qualifying for VAT alleviation would be broadened to encompass additional technologies, such as water-source heat pumps. Furthermore, they declared an extension of this relief to "installations in structures exclusively utilized for relevant charitable endeavours".

This means that homes will benefit from zero VAT on energy-efficient measures for five years as the scheme began on April 2022 and will last until 2027. Furthermore, these technologies will be eligible for the 0% rate until 31 March 2027 and the 5% reduced rate from 1 April 2027.

An average UK home can expect to pay between £2,500 - £10,500 for installing solar panels and between £8,750 - £14,050 for an air source heat pump system. To know more about ASHP systems, read our guide here: What is an air source heat pump?

Regarding domestic solar panels, the scrapping of VAT and other solar panel grants, such as the Smart Export Guarantee, is expected to help bear the installation cost of solar panels, which many UK households find very expensive.

For residential properties, installing solar panels is subject to a 0% VAT charge. However, it's important to note that the VAT reduction only applies if you're having the solar panels installed by a professional. This means that the 0% VAT doesn't apply to DIY solar panel installations, so be sure to consider this before moving forward with installing your solar system yourself.

On the other hand, business premises are subject to a standard VAT rate of 20% for solar panel installations. This higher rate can impact the financial viability of such projects for businesses.

Businesses can recover the VAT paid on installations through input tax claims if the panels are used for taxable business activities. This can mitigate the impact of the initial 20% VAT charge. However, if the business activities are exempt or the solar panels are used for non-business purposes, VAT recovery may not be possible.

In light of the current global situation around energy prices, it is without a doubt the best time to invest in clean, renewable energy that will, in the future, protect homes from the volatility of the fluctuating market and increasing gas prices in the UK. The VAT on renewables was 5%, which was already low, but scrapping that off will potentially prevent people from paying excessively on their energy bills.

The UK's initiatives to push green energy into private households are just the beginning of a green and clean future, and we can only hope that this incentivises people to make energy-efficient choices for their homes. The new ECO+ scheme will be launched in Spring 2023. Other regional plans like solar panels Scotland grants are worth looking out for.

Getting offers from certified installers to make a cost-effective purchase is all the more important, as this is a long-term investment. Greenmatch is here to help you receive such offers from certified installers with expertise in providing tailor-made solutions to suit your home.