Published 16 June 2026
If you or the person you care for is disabled or has a long-term health condition, you can almost always buy a stairlift without paying VAT. That is a saving of 20 per cent on a purchase that often runs into thousands of pounds, yet many people pay it without realising they did not have to. This guide explains who qualifies, how the relief works, and what you need to do to claim it.
What stairlift VAT relief actually is
VAT relief is not a refund you apply for after the event. When you qualify, the supplier simply does not charge you the VAT in the first place. The 20 per cent comes off the price of the stairlift and its installation, so a lift advertised at £3,000 including VAT should cost you around £2,500 once the relief is applied. The rules come from HMRC and apply across the whole of the UK, so any reputable stairlift company will be familiar with the process.
The relief covers the stairlift itself, the cost of fitting it, and most repairs, servicing and spare parts on a lift you already own. It also covers some related building work where that work is needed to install the equipment.
Who qualifies
To buy a stairlift VAT-free, two things need to be true. First, the lift must be for your own personal or domestic use. Second, you need to be what HMRC calls “chronically sick or disabled”.
HMRC defines that as someone with a physical or mental impairment that has a long-term and substantial effect on their ability to carry out everyday activities, or someone with a condition that doctors treat as a chronic sickness, such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, arthritis or diabetes. You do not need a registered disability and you do not need to provide medical evidence.
It is worth being clear about who does not qualify. Being elderly is not enough on its own. A person who is frail but not disabled or chronically sick cannot claim the relief simply because of their age. Neither can someone who is only temporarily unwell, for example while recovering from a broken leg. The condition needs to be long-term.
How to claim it
Claiming is straightforward. The supplier gives you a short form called an eligibility declaration. You confirm your name and address, describe your condition in your own words, and sign to say the lift is for personal use. That is all that is required. You are not sending anything to HMRC and you do not need a doctor’s letter.
If the person who will use the lift is unable to complete the form themselves, a family member, carer or someone with power of attorney can sign on their behalf. Keep a copy for your records, as the supplier is required to retain theirs.
VAT relief and over-60s
There is a common myth that anyone over 60 gets a stairlift VAT-free. That is not quite right. The age-related help is a separate, reduced rate of VAT on certain mobility aids installed for people aged 60 or over, and it is more limited than the full relief. In practice, most older people buying a stairlift qualify for the full zero rate anyway, because the mobility problem that prompts the purchase usually meets HMRC’s definition of chronically sick or disabled. If in doubt, the safest route is the standard disability declaration.
VAT relief alongside grants and funding
VAT relief is not a grant and it does not affect your eligibility for one. If you receive help through a Disabled Facilities Grant or another funding route, the VAT position is handled as part of that process. For people paying privately, the relief stacks neatly with other ways to spread the cost. Our guides to stairlift grants and ways to finance a stairlift cover those options in full.
At a glance
- The saving: 20 per cent, taken off the price at the point of sale rather than reclaimed afterwards.
- Who qualifies: people who are disabled or chronically sick, buying for personal or domestic use.
- What you need: a signed eligibility declaration. No medical proof, no claim to HMRC.
- What is covered: the lift, installation, and most servicing, repairs and parts.
- Who cannot claim: people who are simply elderly, or only temporarily unwell.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to prove my disability to get VAT relief?
No. You sign a short declaration describing your condition in your own words. You do not need to send medical evidence or contact HMRC yourself.
How much will VAT relief save me on a stairlift?
The relief removes the 20 per cent VAT. On a stairlift priced at £3,000 including VAT, that is a saving of around £500. On a curved lift costing £6,000 or more, the saving runs into four figures.
Can I claim VAT relief on a reconditioned stairlift?
Yes. The relief applies to the supply and installation regardless of whether the lift is new or reconditioned, provided you meet the eligibility conditions.
Does VAT relief cover servicing and repairs?
Yes. Servicing, repairs and replacement parts on a stairlift owned by an eligible person are also zero-rated, so you should not be charged VAT on a service call either.
I am over 60 but not disabled. Can I still buy VAT-free?
Not under the full relief, which depends on being chronically sick or disabled rather than on age. A separate reduced rate applies to some mobility aids fitted for over-60s. Most older buyers qualify for the full relief in any case because of the condition behind the purchase, so it is worth discussing your situation with the supplier.
What if the person using the stairlift cannot sign the form?
A family member, carer or someone holding power of attorney can complete and sign the eligibility declaration on their behalf.
Published 16 June 2026