Originally Posted by
Markieg
I have a prepaid stay next week which was booked before the uk vat reduction was announced from 17.5% to 15% which takes place today (1st Dec).
Should I get a refund?
PS Am stunned to report that Hilton.com is correctly calculating uk tax at 15% as of now
If you paid for the stay already then it's likely you've crystallized the tax liability at the rate in force when you made the prepayment, so it's 17.5% I'm afraid. The tax point (the time the supply takes place for VAT purposes) is generally set by the earliest of a number of specific events, one of which is payment.
Hilton may be able to credit your prepayment back to you and take payment post December 1st to take advantage of the new rate, but strictly speaking you're locked in at the higher rate.
As an aside, for those traveling from outside the UK, assuming the trip is for business purposes and you're not UK resident you may of course be able to submit a claim for refund of the VAT paid on your trip (under either the 8th or the 13th Directive, depending on your place of residence).