In his Autumn Statement on Wednesday (December 3), the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed recent reports that search and rescue and air ambulance charities will be able to claim VAT refunds from 1 April 2015.
This is in recognition of the vital role they play in providing support to the public sector emergency services.
The Daily Mail reported that this change is due to lobbying by Prince William who now works for the East Anglia Air Ambulance and follows the withdrawal of the RAF from these services. The VAT refunds could be worth £25m over five years.
The Chancellor also had good news for the Prospect Hospice: the government has announced that it will meet the costs the hospice sector faces from VAT payments.
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