Paying VAT on vet bills

Nakedcash

This has probably been said before but isn't it wrong to have to pay VAT on our vets bill.
I started putting money aside for my pets (rather than take out medical insurance) 15 years ago. I had several thousand pounds saved up as luckily my pets are mostly healthy and I don't take from the fund to have them vaccinated which helps. However my cat, Georgie became very ill. She had to see a specialist and it made a big dent in my fund, I was shocked at the bill but even more shocked when I discovered I had paid about £450 in VAT. This was added up over the three months she was ill before she died. I was lucky that I had the money in the fund but it isn't very good for pets of poorer families who may not be eligible for the PDSA and may end up with poor suffering animals because they can't afford the vets bills because the VAT bumps it up.

Eels100

While I can see your point that VAT increases vet bills, I think it's one thing that really should be taxed! I feel quite strongly about this so I want to make it clear I am not aiming any of my reply at the OP.

Ownership of an animal or pet is a luxury, not a right. It's not like it's essential to own a pet, like it's essential to have shoes for your child or food on the table. Pet ownership is a privilege and as such I'm not surprised vet fees are taxable.

Without sounding really harsh here, if there's a question over someone's income then I would advise against pet ownership. The PDSA etc are there to help those who have fallen on hard times. But they are a charity, not state welfare. Their availability should not be a relied on or used as justification when someone on an unfeasibly low income gets a pet. Pets are a heavy responsibility and financial burden and as such any possible costs should be accounted for by savings or insurance.

I don't have much patience for people who buy pets then days later turn up on the vet's doorstep asking for cheap treatment. I've even had someone say they couldn't afford their vet bill because they'd just spent £600 on buying the puppy! People like this have obviously spent no time considering their responsiblities as pet owners.

At least VAT is a reminder that pets are a luxury we should consider carefully before spending out on.

golly99

Quite right, i'm always astounded to hear about people complaining about their vets bills, saying they can't afford it and wanting to pay later, pets are a long term commitment and people should really think before they make that commitment. As much as this is a moneysaving board, sometimes you can't apply that logic to everything and getting a cheap dog food to save a few quid then kicking off in the vets because of the bill is not on. In a way i wish we didn't have the NHS then people could get used to paying for health treatment!

Shambler

Don't be too harsh on the OP, I can see where they are coming from.

The thing is VAT is payable on goods AND services, it's just a fact.

Whether there should be some discount since it is essentially a health service is debateable.

I have paid for private medical treatment (BUPA) but can't remember if VAT was payable on all services or not.