Hospitality
The VAT rate applicable to businesses in the provision of food, catering and hairdressing services will reduce from 13.5% to 9% with effect from 1 July 2026 to support businesses providing such services and to help support jobs in the sector.
This change will principally apply to restaurants, cafes, pubs serving food, takeaways, food caterers and hair salons.
Please note, there is no change to the VAT rate applicable to accommodation services or admissions to certain attractions including an open farm, cinemas and theatres, where the VAT rate of 13.5% for such services remains in place.
Construction
The VAT rate applicable to the sale of newly constructed apartments will reduce from 13.5% to 9% with effect from 8 October 2025 until 31 December 2030 with a view to addressing the viability gap in apartment construction as part of a social policy to deliver more and higher density apartments.
Electricity and Gas
The temporary 9% VAT rate for the supply of electricity and gas has been further extended until 31 December 2030, with a view to alleviating energy cost pressures across the year for households. The temporary reduction in the VAT rate from 13.5% to 9% was due to expire on 31 October 2025.
VAT Modernisation and Electronic Invoicing
In light of the recently agreed changes to EU legislation, known as the EU’s VAT in the Digital Age (VIDA) package, that will modernise the EU’s VAT system, reshape VAT administration to make it work better for businesses and make the VAT system more resilient to VAT fraud, Revenue will begin a phased roll-out of domestic electronic invoicing arrangements for business to business (B2B) transactions.
Revenue will publish further details on this initiative in a paper tomorrow (8 October 2025).
Special Flat Rate Scheme for Farmers
The Special Flat Rate Scheme for Farmers will decrease from 5.1% to 4.5% with effect from 1 January 2026. The Special Flat Rate Scheme for Farmers compensates eligible farmers who are not VAT registered for VAT incurred on their purchases.