VAT on Coffins

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

I've just noticed that VAT at the standard rate is applicable to coffins. I think this is fairly nasty and I doubt the tax free alternative of just dumping the corpse into a grave or furnace is allowed.

A burial at sea in international waters is presumably tax free. I'm just looking at my options.

Archeron

Have you considered being eaten by cannibals?

RMAOK

Maybe you could become an undertaker and the VAT might not be an issue

selfbuild17

You could donate the body to science. I’m sure the scientific community would be delighted to have a fine specimen such as yourself on their dissection .table

https://www.revenue.ie/en/vat/vat-rates/search-vat-rates/F/funeral-undertaker-exemptions-by-derogation-in-accordance-with-artcle-.aspx

'Rate
Exempt

Remarks
The supply of wreaths, coffins, etc as part of funeral account also exempt. However, the commercial supply of coffins manufactured by the undertaker (e.g. to another undertaker) is taxable at standard rate.'

Your Face

Death and taxes.

antoinolachtnai

RMAOK wrote: »

Maybe you could become an undertaker and the VAT might not be an issue

If you die in the course of your trade then maybe you could claim it back( assuming your trade is in the VAT net of course).

They call it the standard rate for a reason.

Burial at sea is not a likely way to save money.

J. Marston

That field of work always struck me as the biggest racket going. Preying on grieving families, offering absurdly expensive wooden boxes.

Odelay

Have you considered one of them skip-o-bags? I see them in petrol stations now.

Odelay

J. Marston wrote: »

That field of work always struck me as the biggest racket going. Preying on grieving families, offering absurdly expensive wooden boxes.

I hear they are dying to get into them.

happyoutscan

I'm wondering, could you just use one that you made yourself (before death obviously)?

Odelay

https://touch.adverts.ie/crazy-random-stuff/coffin/21313414

Second hand with a bit of history. Be a nice conversation piece.

J. Marston

happyoutscan wrote: »

I'm wondering, could you just use one that you made yourself (before death obviously)?

Good question. I bet there are regulations in place that force you into buying the cheapest coffin possible.

A quick google of "coffin prices" and the first result is...

http://funeral-directors-donegal.martinmcgowan.ie/funeral-coffins/

Prices range from €2500 to €1000 for a coffin. Such bollocks.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

Odelay wrote: »

Have you considered one of them skip-o-bags? I see them in petrol stations now.

These bags are liable for VAT.

Victor

J. Marston wrote: »

That field of work always struck me as the biggest racket going. Preying on grieving families, offering absurdly expensive wooden boxes.

I understand many funerals are arranged long in advance, so no preying on grieving families.

Odelay wrote: »

Have you considered one of them skip-o-bags? I see them in petrol stations now.

Actually, coffins (of whatever style) are a legal requirement. The Muslim community has a difficulty with this, as death shrouds (I don't know the proper name) are more appropriate for their burials.

Pkiernan

Whats far worse is our incredinly high inheritance tax, designed to reward the bone idle classes using the hard work of others.

suicide_circus

Any amount of old wardrobes or sideboards free to take away on donedeal or the like.

suicide_circus

Victor wrote: »

Actually, coffins (of whatever style) are a legal requirement.

Wonder what the logic behind that is?

suicide_circus

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/coffins-optional-as-victorian-burial-laws-to-be-revoked-1.1384419

Compost wheelie bin
You've already paid , might as well use it.
Throw a few potato peelings and lawn cuttings in on top, no one will ever know

Allinall

[Deleted User] wrote: »

https://www.revenue.ie/en/vat/vat-rates/search-vat-rates/F/funeral-undertaker-exemptions-by-derogation-in-accordance-with-artcle-.aspx

'Rate
Exempt

Remarks
The supply of wreaths, coffins, etc as part of funeral account also exempt. However, the commercial supply of coffins manufactured by the undertaker (e.g. to another undertaker) is taxable at standard rate.'

This.

There is no VAT payable by the end user.