The United Kingdom’s new vape tax and duty-stamp system begins Oct. 1. Manufacturers and importers will start paying £2.20 in excise duty for every 10 milliliters of vaping liquid placed on the UK market.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) used a Sept.1 warning to remind manufacturers, importers, warehouse keepers, wholesalers, and retailers that the Vaping Products Duty (VPD) and Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme are about to take effect. The new tax applies to vaping liquids whether they contain nicotine or not.
The duty is based entirely on liquid volume. HMRC’s current duty-rate guidance sets the charge at £0.22 per milliliter, meaning a 2 mL pod carries £0.44 in duty and a 10 mL bottle £2.20. The flat-rate structure makes larger e-liquid formats especially vulnerable to steep tax-driven price increases.
Businesses that manufacture vaping products in the UK must be approved by HMRC before production. Companies that store products under duty suspension or handle duty stamps may also need approval. HMRC says in its approval guidance that producing vaping products without the required authorization can lead to penalties and confiscation of products, packaging, equipment, or production materials.
Imports face the same tax burden. Under HMRC’s import guidance, VPD is normally due when products enter the UK unless they immediately move into an approved duty-suspension arrangement. Products released for UK consumption on or after Oct. 1 must carry the required duty stamp before release.
The stamp system adds a second layer of compliance. Digital stamps became available on Sept. 1, while approved businesses may buy transitional stamps through Nov. 30 and affix them through Dec. 31. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, only digital stamps may be newly applied.
Retailers and wholesalers get a temporary reprieve for existing inventory. Eligible unstamped products manufactured or imported before Oct. 1 may still be sold through March 31, 2027. From April 1, all vaping products outside duty suspension must carry a valid stamp.
The government says the tax will support its youth-vaping and public-health policies while preserving a tax gap between vaping and cigarettes. For adult consumers, though, the financial impact will be harder to ignore.