Vape duty stamps to appear on packs as new excise regime begins
A new UK vaping products duty takes effect on 1 October, with duty stamps appearing on retail packaging from the same date.Summary
A new excise duty on vaping liquids takes effect in the UK on 1 October, charged at £2.20 per 10ml and paid by approved manufacturers, importers and warehousekeepers. The government says the duty aims to reduce the affordability and appeal of vaping, particularly to young people and non-smokers. HMRC expects the tax to raise more than £550 million a year by 2030-31, though it is a commercial decision whether the cost is passed to retailers and consumers. Alongside the duty, HMRC is launching the Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme, with stamps appearing on retail packaging from 1 October; transitional stamps without digital elements can be used until the end of 2026, after which digital stamps become mandatory for new products from 1 January 2027. Wholesalers and retailers get a six-month grace period until 31 March 2027 to sell eligible unstamped stock, after which all vaping products sold in the UK must carry a valid duty stamp. Tobacco duty also rises on 1 October by a one-off £2.20 per 100 cigarettes or 50g of tobacco, and new traveller allowances take effect, including a 50ml duty-free limit for vaping liquid entering Great Britain.
(Source：Business Matters)
