# Government to donate VAT received from sales of commemorative items

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/11/01/government-donate-vat-received-sales-commemorative-items/
- Published: 2018-11-01T08:00:59+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The Government has announced that it is to make a charitable donation equal to
the VAT it receives from sales of commemorative charity items.**

Announced in this week’s Budget speech by Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond,
the move follows a campaign launched by charity [Remembered](https://www.therebutnotthere.org.uk/)
in October calling for a VAT rebate on sales of its Tommy figures.

In his speech, Hammond said:

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> “…many projects are raising money for veterans’ charities from sales of commemorative
> items on which VAT is charged.
> Now we cannot waive the VAT due on these sales.
> But we can make a donation with the VAT we will receive…
> …and I commit today that the Treasury will mark the Centenary of the Armistice
> by making a donation of £10m to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to support
> veterans with mental health needs.”

Remembered is selling the ‘There But Not There’ ‘Tommies’ to raise funds for six
military charities including Walking with the Wounded, Project Equinox, and Help
for Heroes. Its Change.org petition calling for VAT to be rebated reached almost
125,000 signatures.

> Did you see the news? We are delighted to say that Chancellor of the Exchequer
> [@PhilipHammondUK](https://twitter.com/PhilipHammondUK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is
> returning the VAT on our Tommies! Read more here: [https://t.co/vkM2WqEH85](https://t.co/vkM2WqEH85)
> — There But Not There (@TBNT2019) [October 29, 2018](https://twitter.com/TBNT2019/status/1056923591151968256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

In an update [on the page](https://www.change.org/p/help-the-armed-forces-charity-there-but-not-there-reclaim-the-vat-on-the-sale-of-commemorative-tommies-ensuring-that-the-taxman-isn-t-the-largest-beneficiary/u/23511118?cs_tk=Ae4KFg5CVkaYNUuD3FsAYzmM8BiEVTt9ny0U5Pys1A%3D%3D&utm_campaign=d48bdc7ba49e4419b67ec9c987f1c138&utm_medium=email&utm_source=petition_update&utm_term=cs),
Remembered’s Rowley Gregg said:

>  “This is fantastic news! Our small team has been working incredibly hard throughout
> this year to raise as much money as possible, so to receive confirmation from 
> the government of such a sizeable donation, which we will be able to pass on to
> our benefitting charities, really made our Monday.”

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