Value-added tax was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1973, when the UK joined the European Economic Community. Originally, the aim for VAT was to replace purchase tax.

Throughout the following decades, the VAT ruling system of the United Kingdom has gone through some major changes, such as the change of standard rate of VAT from 17.5% to 20% in 2011. More recently, the UK leaving the EU in January 2021 has resulted in some changes regarding VAT reporting obligations.