VCHAR14550 - Medical and scientific equipment (“relevant goods�): Charitable institutions providing domiciliary care

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp tests for these charities are less exacting, predominantly because they will be involved in purchasing a restricted range of relevant goods due to the nature of the services provided.

What services must be provided?

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp charitable institution must demonstrate that they provide medical care to the disabled person in their own home.

What do we mean by “medical care�?

“Medical care� in this context refers to the sort of care a nurse would carry out or supervise, for example:

  • washing
  • getting people out of bed
  • administering drugs etc.

It does not refer to supplies of basic domestic help services such as:

  • cooking
  • cleaning
  • shopping, or
  • laundry.

Help with such domestic tasks is taxable.

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What relevant goods can they purchase at the zero-rate?

Charities who provide domiciliary care are eligible to purchase any of the relevant goods in Legal Note (3)(a) to Group 15 at the zero-rate. This means that items that a nurse would take out to a disabled person’s home are covered, for example:

  • stethoscopes
  • syringes
  • blood pressure equipment.

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How must the relevant goods be used?

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp relevant goods must be used in the course of the provision of domiciliary care and must not be used for general purposes.