Mountain rescuers win VAT refunds

Peter Hyde

UNSUNG volunteer rescue services are to be allowed to claim VAT refunds on vital equipment.

The move announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement comes after years of campaigning by 150 search and rescue teams and air ambulance charities.

The scheme, which will operate from April next year, replaces the previous arrangement, won by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mountain Rescue in 2011, but was due to expire this year.

Under this scheme teams received a grant for equipment to offset some of their VAT costs.

Nationally, the news was welcomed with delight by Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW) and the British Cave Rescue Council (BCRC).

But locally, Peter Hyde, director of Oldham Mountain Rescue Team, said: “Until details are known it is difficult to assess what the cash benefit would be.

“The statement says we will be able to claim back the VAT on purchases of goods and services for our ‘non-business’ activities.

“Therefore, anything considered to be a business activity — buying and selling trinkets for fundraising or buying our specialist clothing perhaps — will not be eligible for a refund so we will have to see just what that means.

“However, it is clear that lobbying over many years has won the day and if we can get the VAT back on major items like fuel, insurance, power and rent it will be a great help.

“But there is a way to go before we get the detail and find out how it will be administered,” he added.

To read a full version of this story follow links to the e-Chron digital edition our buy the Chronicle.