How to Get VAT Relief on Wigs – A Complete Guide to VAT-Free Wigs
What's In This Article
If you’re buying a wig because of hair loss caused by a medical condition or treatment, you may be eligible to buy your wig without paying VAT. This can apply to people experiencing hair loss due to alopecia, cancer treatment, chemotherapy and other qualifying long-term medical conditions.
You don’t need to be registered disabled or receive disability benefits, and VAT relief isn’t means-tested. You simply need to meet HMRC’s eligibility conditions and be purchasing a qualifying wig or hairpiece.
At Simply Wigs, we’ve been helping customers with VAT relief for many years. We know the rules can sound complicated, particularly if this is your first time buying a wig, so we’ve made this guide as straightforward as possible. It explains who may qualify, which products are eligible, how much you could save and how to claim VAT relief when ordering from Simply Wigs.
What is VAT relief on wigs?
HMRC allows certain products, including qualifying wigs, to be supplied at 0% VAT when its eligibility conditions are met. That means if you qualify and you’re buying an eligible wig for your own personal use, you won’t have to pay the VAT that would normally be included in the price.
Watch the video to learn more.
Do I qualify for VAT relief on wigs?
So, who is eligible for VAT relief? HMRC uses the term “chronically sick or disabled” when describing who can qualify.
For VAT purposes, this includes someone who has:
- a physical or mental impairment which has a long-term and substantial effect on their ability to carry out everyday activities; or
- a condition which the medical profession treats as a chronic sickness or long-term health condition.
For our customers, VAT relief is often relevant to people experiencing medical hair loss associated with conditions or treatments such as alopecia, cancer and chemotherapy, as well as other long-term illnesses or conditions. Having a particular diagnosis doesn’t automatically determine whether you qualify. Your own circumstances still need to meet HMRC’s eligibility rules.
If you’re unsure whether your condition qualifies, HMRC recommends speaking to your doctor or another medical professional.
Who is eligible, do I need a doctors certificate?
You may be able to claim VAT relief if you have a long-term illness, disability or medical condition that affects your day-to-day life.
The good news is, you usually won’t need a doctor’s certificate. We’ll simply ask you to complete a short declaration to confirm that you’re eligible. Being older on its own doesn’t automatically qualify, and temporary conditions, such as a broken leg, wouldn’t normally be covered.
You may be eligible for VAT relief if you are chronically sick or disabled. For VAT purposes, this generally means that you have:
- a physical or mental impairment that has a long-term and substantial effect on your ability to carry out everyday activities; or
- a condition that the medical profession treats as a chronic illness, such as diabetes.
HMRC confirms that the relief is not means-tested, customers do not have to be registered disabled, and a written eligibility declaration is normally used as evidence. Its internal guidance also specifically discourages suppliers from routinely requesting a doctor’s certificate.
What wig products qualify for VAT relief?
Both human hair and synthetic wigs can qualify for VAT relief when they’re purchased by someone who meets HMRC’s eligibility criteria and are for their personal use. HMRC specifically includes wigs as an eligible product, including wigs used during illness to help with hair loss. Some wig accessories may also qualify, but only where they’re designed specifically for use with an eligible wig.
VAT relief applies to:
- Wigs
- Eligible Enhancers and hairpieces
VAT relief does not apply to:
- Shampoo and conditioner
- All other styling products
- Brushes & combs
Not sure if you're eligible?
Don’t worry, you’re not expected to be a tax expert. If you have any questions about VAT relief, our friendly Customer Care Team will be happy to explain how it works and help you understand the HMRC guidance before you place your order. We simply ask that VAT relief is only claimed by customers who meet the HMRC eligibility criteria.
How do I claim VAT relief on wigs?
We’ve made claiming VAT relief as simple as possible. During checkout you’ll be asked to complete a short declaration confirming your eligibility. Once completed, you’ll pay the VAT-free price immediately.
- No paperwork to post
- No forms to print
- No waiting for a refund
- Quick and straightforward online declaration
For telephone orders, the declaration must be completed by the person who is eligible to claim VAT relief. A member of out fabulous customer service team can talk you through how to do this.
How to claim VAT relief with Simply Wigs
How you claim VAT relief depends on whether you’re ordering online, by telephone or purchasing on behalf of someone else.
| How you’re ordering | What you need to do | What happens with the VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Online – buying for yourself | Complete the VAT relief declaration during checkout. You’ll be asked for your name, address and the medical condition or disability that makes you eligible. |
VAT is removed before you pay for qualifying products. |
| By telephone – buying for yourself | Place your order with our team. We’ll then send you a VAT relief declaration to complete, sign and return to us. | The order is initially charged including VAT. Once we receive and approve your declaration, the VAT is refunded to your original payment card. |
| By telephone – buying for someone else | Tell our team that you’re purchasing on behalf of someone who is eligible. We’ll send you the appropriate declaration to complete, sign and return. | The order is initially charged including VAT. Once we receive the completed declaration, the VAT is refunded to the original payment card. |
| What happens to the declaration? | Simply Wigs keeps the appropriate declaration and supporting information with our VAT records. | You don’t need to send anything to HMRC. |
How much will I actually save?
This is probably the part of VAT relief that causes the most confusion, and we completely understand why.
EXAMPLE – If a wig costs £100 including VAT, you might expect that removing 20% VAT would reduce the price to £80. It doesn’t, because the £100 price already includes the VAT.
Here’s how the price is worked out:
| Wig price including VAT | £100.00 |
| Price before VAT | £83.33 |
| VAT included in the £100 price | £16.67 |
| Price with VAT relief | £83.33 |
| Your saving | £16.67 |
So, on a wig advertised at £100 including VAT, an eligible
customer would pay £83.33, saving
£16.67 rather than £20.
It can seem a little counter-intuitive at first, but the important thing to remember is that the VAT is already included within the advertised price.
What if I’ve already paid VAT on my wigs?
If you believe you were eligible for VAT relief when you purchased your wig but VAT was charged, please contact the retailer you bought the wig from.
HMRC does not normally refund this VAT directly to the customer. Any correction needs to be dealt with by the supplier who originally charged the VAT. If you purchased your wig from Simply Wigs, please contact our Customer Services team with your order details. We can review the purchase and, where appropriate, ask you to complete the necessary VAT relief declaration. If the purchase qualifies and the correct declaration has been completed, we can then arrange for the VAT that was charged to be refunded.
VAT relief is not a discount code
VAT relief is not a promotional discount and should not simply be applied using a discount code. It is a specific VAT treatment that requires the correct eligibility declaration and records to be kept. If a supplier is simply reducing the price with a discount code and treating that reduction as VAT relief, that is not the correct way to account for VAT.
This is also why VAT-free does not mean 20% off the advertised price. On a £100 wig, the VAT element is £16.67, making the correct VAT-free price £83.33, not £80.
If a retailer simply applies a discount code and calls it VAT relief, without correctly zero-rating the qualifying sale and keeping the required VAT records, this would not comply with the proper VAT relief process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wig VAT
VAT on wigs can sometimes be daunting, but we have made it very simple and easy for you. Remeber, if you have any more questions then simply contact a member of our friendly customer services team and they will gladly advise.
- Do I have to be registered disabled?
-
No. You don’t have to be registered disabled or receive disability benefits to qualify. You do still need to meet HMRC’s eligibility conditions.
- Is VAT relief means-tested?
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No. Your income or savings don’t determine whether you qualify.
- Can I claim VAT relief more than once?
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Yes. VAT relief isn’t a one off allowance. Each purchase simply needs to meet the relevant conditions at the time.
- Does every wig automatically qualify for VAT relief?
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No. The product, the person purchasing it and its intended use need to meet the relevant HMRC conditions.
- Can I claim VAT relief if I have alopecia or I'm receiving chemotherapy?
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Yes. You are eligible for VAT relief on a qualifying wig. Eligibility still depends on your circumstances, meeting HMRC’s criteria.
- I'm buying a wig for someone else. Can they still receive VAT relief?
-
Potentially, yes. If you’re buying on behalf of an eligible person, please contact us so we can make sure the appropriate declaration is completed. For telephone orders, we take the initial payment including VAT and send you our buying on behalf, form. Once the signed form is returned and the relevant conditions are met, we refund the VAT to the original payment card.
- Can I claim VAT relief at your shop?
-
Yes. If you visit our Simply Wigs shop, you can still claim VAT relief if you are eligible. You will simply be asked to complete the same HMRC declaration before your purchase is completed, and the VAT will be removed from the price of any qualifying wigs or hairpieces.
- Do synthetic and human hair wigs qualify for VAT relief?
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Yes. If you qualify for VAT relief, both synthetic and human hair wigs can be purchased VAT free, provided they are eligible products. The type of fibre does not affect your entitlement; what matters is that the wig is being purchased because of your qualifying medical condition, or disability.
- Can I claim VAT on wig shampoo or accessories?
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No. VAT relief only applies to eligible wigs and qualifying hairpieces, not aftercare products or accessories.
- I'm still not sure whether I qualify. What should I do?
-
Please don’t worry about asking us. We know that many people arrive at Simply Wigs having never bought a wig before, never mind having had to understand VAT rules as well. Our Customer Services team can explain how the Simply Wigs VAT relief process works, which of our products may qualify and what information we’ll need from you.
For the legal rules around eligibility itself, HMRC’s current VAT guidance should always be treated as the authoritative source.
We’re here to make choosing your wig as straightforward and comfortable as we possibly can.
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