EU and UK VAT rate snapshot

Current standard VAT rates across the EU 27 and the UK, calculated from the source-linked country records in this portal.

What this snapshot can answer

It compares the standard rates currently recorded for each jurisdiction, links every country record to its authority source, and shows the effective date recorded for that current rate. It does not claim to be a historical series: the current `vat_rates` dataset stores the current row and its effective date, not a complete sequence of prior rates.

For a transaction-specific decision, use the country detail and reverse-charge tools, then confirm the treatment with the relevant authority or adviser.

Hungary27%Finland25.5%Croatia25%Denmark25%Sweden25%
EU 27: five highest current standard VAT rates

Source: the authority links attached to PlainVAT's current country-rate records.

Luxembourg17%Malta18%Romania19%Germany19%Cyprus19%
EU 27: five lowest current standard VAT rates

Source: the authority links attached to PlainVAT's current country-rate records.

Rate distribution

The current records cluster around the middle bands rather than one uniform EU rate. This chart counts jurisdictions by their recorded standard-rate band.

17-19%5 countries20-21%9 countries22-23%7 countries24%+6 countries
EU 27: jurisdictions by current standard VAT-rate band

Source: the authority links attached to PlainVAT's current country-rate records.

Current range

The current EU standard-rate range in this dataset runs from 17% to 27%. The United Kingdom's recorded standard rate is 20%; 19 EU member states are above it and 8 are at or below it.

Recorded effective dates

The dates below are the effective dates on the current standard-rate records. They show when the current rate took effect, not a complete change history.

  • Slovakia: 23% standard rate, current record effective 2025-01-01.
  • Finland: 25.5% standard rate, current record effective 2024-09-01.
  • Estonia: 22% standard rate, current record effective 2024-01-01.
  • Luxembourg: 17% standard rate, current record effective 2024-01-01.
  • Romania: 19% standard rate, current record effective 2017-01-01.

Data updated 2026-07-08. The page intentionally avoids forecasts and unsupported claims about future policy changes.