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VAT coding for conferences run by external organisations

This guide is to assist with VAT coding of conference facilites supplied to external organisations.

VAT exempt conference run by external organisation

UK VAT exemption form is fully completed by the customer.

Income type VAT rate Comments
Residential packages for fee paying delegates, catering, room hire & accommodation Exempt ** Invoiced as package price
Catering for fee paying delegates Exempt Invoiced separately
Accommodation for fee paying delegates Exempt Invoiced separately
Parking for fee paying delegates Exempt
Non fee paying delegates i.e conference staff and speakers - catering, package rate per person, room hire if charged per person, accommodation and parking VAT at 20% *
Bar facilities, drinks reception, and other social facilities/services VAT at 20%
Separately charged alcohol, i.e. drinks reception VAT at 20%
Break out rooms Exempt
Conference management and administration separate service VAT at 20% Check with Andrew Gay
Staff support/security Exempt VAT at 20% if used for social activities
AV equipment extra charge / technical support Exempt VAT at 20% if used for social activities
Specialist furniture and lighting Exempt VAT at 20% if used for social activities
Security for conference activities Exempt VAT at 20% if used for social activities
Hire of poster board Exempt VAT at 20% if used for social activities
Hire of tablecloths Exempt VAT at 20% if used for social activities. i.e quiz evening
Supply of printer cards Exempt VAT at 20% if used for social activities
Broken or missing keys, equipment, furniture Outside the scope of VAT– zero% No supply of goods or services

*the Customer will need to provide numbers of staff, speakers, exhibitors, spouses/guests of the delegates in order that their part of the package price can be invoiced with VAT for catering, accommodation, parking, room hire if charged per person.

**when room hire is charged at a rate per person (may also include catering and parking), then numbers of staff, speakers, exhibitors, spouses/guests of the delegates are required for VAT to be charged for their room use

Vatable conference run by external organisation

No VAT exemption form completed by the customer

Income type VAT rate Comments
Residential packages for delegates – catering, room hire & accommodation VAT at 20% Invoiced as package price
Conference package – catering & room hire VAT at 20% Invoiced as package price
Catering for delegates VAT at 20% Invoiced separately
Accommodation for delegates VAT at 20% Invoiced separately
Parking VAT at 20%
Catering & accommodation for staff, speakers, exhibitors, spouses/guests of the delegates VAT at 20%
Bar facilities, drinks reception, and other social facilities/services VAT at 20%
Separately charged alcohol, i.e. drinks reception VAT at 20%
Break out rooms VAT at 20%
Conference management and administration separate service VAT at 20% Check with Andrew Gay
UoW staff support/security VAT at 20%
AV equipment extra charge / technical support VAT at 20%
Specialist furniture and lighting VAT at 20%
Security for conference activities VAT at 20%
Security for social events VAT at 20%
Hire of poster board VAT at 20%
Hire of tablecloths VAT at 20%
Supply of printer cards VAT at 20%
Broken or missing keys, equipment, furniture Outside the scope of VAT– zero% No supply of goods or services

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