The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recently released a statement to promote the VAT recovery scheme it operates for museums and galleries that open to the public free of charge.
First introduced in 2001, museums and galleries can apply to be approved under the scheme, which allows them to obtain a refund of VAT on many of the costs they incur on their collections that they allow the public to view without paying an admission fee. There are currently more than 100 UK venues that have been approved to use the scheme, ranging from national institutions like the British Museum and the National Gallery, to collections held by universities and local museums, plus smaller galleries operated by charities across the country. Around £100m a year is refunded through the scheme.
Source RSM
