Life can be hard enough when you are disabled, even before you have forked out money for the specialist equipment which can make life so much easier. Fortunately, disabled and chronically ill people can buy some goods much cheaper than most people. Seventeen and a half percent cheaper, to be exact.

We are referring, of course, to VAT exemption. People with chronic illness or disability can claim tax relief on certain goods. To claim the relief a person must have a long term illness or disability – short term complaints do not qualify. While a person does not have to be registered disabled to claim the relief, the problem does have to be of sufficient severity.

This VAT exemption does not apply to everything a disabled person buys, and some of the items on specialist disabled e-stores such as The Disabled Shop are not eligible for VAT relief. Essentially, disabled people should not pay tax when buying goods designed for disabled people, or when having equipment adapted.

Currently VAT exemption applies to items such as specially designed or adapted vehicles such as scooters, adjustable beds, chair lifts and other appliances designed especially for disabled people.

Services exempt from VAT include repair and maintenance of disabled equipment, adapting goods to use by a disabled person and certain building alterations.

No specific proof is required to buy your tax-free purchase, but you will need to complete a statement of eligibility: a self declaration of disability in writing. On The Disabled Shop you can complete this form on-line while making your purchase.

Is this VAT exemption here to stay? Possibly not, at least for all disabled products. The Inland Revenue is now looking at reclassifying some of the larger scooters on the market at luxury goods, which would mean VAT would apply to them. But for now, at least, you can shop away with a 17 ½ percent discount.

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