Local accountant joins call to scrap VAT on fire safety products

Rob Ellis, Welch and Ellis Accounting in Oswestry, is throwing his support behind the Axe Safety Tax campaign, launched by company Gas Tag as he believes it is wrong to charge VAT on products designed to save lives.

He thinks the tax is unfair to most small-scale landlords who may only own one or two properties, often bought to provide them with a pension or inherited after the death of a family member.

The campaign is calling for the Government to scrap the 20 per cent tax which is added to a range of products and services included fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, gas safety checks, fire doors and extinguishers.

Central to the campaign is the belief adding VAT to the products is not only a blow for small landlords and agents, it puts the public at greater risk as it is becoming increasingly expensive to ensure rental properties are compliant. In addition, these products are also bought by people to keep their own homes safe.

Rob, whose office is in Willow Street, but who lives in Llanfechain, Powys explains: “At a time when the country is still reeling from the horrendous tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire, it seems wrong safety products are taxed as though they are luxury items as they are bought by both landlords and the public alike.”

He feels it is especially important for landlords as they can face fines and even imprisonment for failing to conduct gas safety checks and not providing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms or ensuring furniture is fire-safe.

Rob who runs a firm helping small businesses with their book keeping and accountancy needs says he is well placed to understand the importance of tax and why we need to pay it. But adding VAT to these products at best makes no sense and at worst could prove dangerous.

He said: “I would hate to think that anyone would not be able to afford to keep themselves safe because these products had prices inflated by VAT.”

“In contrast, annual MOT inspections which are also intended to save lives are zero-rated.”

Now Rob is urging people to sign a petition to call for the VAT to be scrapped, which has been set up on the Parliament website.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/209347