VAT Consultants for the Food & Drink Industry

Complex supply chains, multiple VAT rates, and sector-specific reliefs - we make VAT in food and drink VAT digestible.

Talk to a Food & Drink VAT Consultant

VAT in the food and drink sector is a minefield of contradictions. A pasty hot from the oven may be standard-rated, while the same item eaten cold could be zero-rated. Add in meal deals, promotional bundles, online deliveries, and cross-border supply, and the rules become even harder to pin down. For producers, wholesalers, restaurants, and retailers alike, these quirks create real risks of under- or overpaying tax. At The VAT Consultancy, we specialise in cutting through this confusion. We help food and drink businesses understand how the VAT rules apply in practice, structure their operations efficiently, and stay on the right side of HMRC - all while identifying opportunities to reduce VAT leakage and protect cashflow.

Food and Drink Industry VAT Services

ERP Systems and Tax Engines

VAT and Customs Duty Training

UK and Global VAT and Customs Duty Compliance

Cost Reduction and VAT Cashflow Management

Interim and Part Time VAT resource for projects and short term staff absence

Ad hoc UK and Global Advisory

Customs Duty and Excise Duty

VAT Risk Management and Control

Food & Drink VAT Consultants

Welcome to The VAT Consultancy, your trusted partner for VAT and customs duty solutions in the food and drink sector. We understand that managing indirect tax within this industry is complex – from differing VAT rates on similar products, to rules on catering, takeaway, or dine-in supplies. Our team delivers clear, practical guidance to keep your operations compliant, while helping to reduce VAT and duty costs throughout your supply chain.

We work with clients across the food and drink spectrum – manufacturers, brand owners, distributors, retailers, and hospitality providers – all of whom face the common challenge of balancing compliance with efficiency in a fast-moving, highly regulated sector.

Let The VAT Consultancy be your strategic partner, guiding you through VAT and customs duty rules, ensuring you have the right infrastructure in place, and helping you achieve both compliance and cost efficiency.

Common areas we advise and consult on include;
  • Correct VAT treatment of food and drink products (standard, reduced, or zero-rated)
  • VAT on meal deals, promotions, and vouchers
  • Duty reliefs on imports of raw ingredients and specialist goods
  • Structuring supply chains to reduce VAT registration requirements overseas
  • VAT cost reduction strategies across manufacturing and retail distribution
  • Treatment of catering, hospitality, and takeaway services
  • Managing partial exemption for mixed activities
  • Cross-border sales and One Stop Shop (OSS) compliance for e-commerce food and drink businesses

TALK TO OUR VAT EXPERTS

Julie Park

Managing Director
– VAT and Customs Duty
M: +44 781 400 4236
T: +44 207 486 0111
EMAIL JULIE

Head off any VAT Risks with our specialist VAT and customs duty advisory services

Our teams of dedicated VAT specialists is committed to helping businesses navigate the complexity of global VAT and customs duty legislation.

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We recruit experienced VAT professionals who’ve worked at HMRC, within the Big Four, and in industry roles both in the UK and overseas.

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The VAT Consultancy are leading VAT and Customs Duty consultants in the UK. We provide tax and VAT advice, working with clients all over the UK and Internationally. Established in 1991, we are the country’s leading independent dedicated VAT and customs duty practice, giving best advice on all aspects of UK and international indirect tax matters.

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