UK tax on cheap isopropyl

I can get a bottle of 50% isopropyl alcohol here in the UK from a
dicount store for about 0.70 UK Pounds (approx 1 US dollar). I use it
for general household cleaning.

The bottle is 473 ml (1 US pint). The 50% is by volume.

Alcohol is so heavily taxed in the UK and this is particularly cheap. I
suspect that the price of 0.70 UKP many not cover the cost of the UK tax
due on it.

Does anyone know how much UK tax should be paid on 230 ml of isopropyl
alcohol?

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

VAT only on retail sales at 17.5%. Consumer prices are usually quoted
VAT inclusive, whist trade prices are ex-vat (and will usually be
labelled as such). If you are exporting it from the EU there is no vat
to pay.

Heavy alcohol taxation is on alcoholic beverages - I don't recommend
drinking isopropanol.

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Don W wrote:

> Alcohol is so heavily taxed in the UK and this is particularly cheap.

No - spirits are subject to excise duty. Isopropyl alcohol isn't a
spirit...

> Does anyone know how much UK tax should be paid on 230 ml of isopropyl
> alcohol?

Customs and Excise probably do... You could visit their web site.
This link may help -

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

The message <>
from contains these words:

> No - spirits are subject to excise duty. Isopropyl alcohol isn't a
> spirit...

Not a potable one, anyway.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

wrote:

> I don't recommend
> drinking isopropanol.

Now you tell me...

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

The message <>
from contains these words:

> > I don't recommend
> > drinking isopropanol.

> Now you tell me...

Does your breath now smell of acetone?

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Guy King wrote:
> The message <>
> from contains these words:
>
> > > I don't recommend
> > > drinking isopropanol.
>
> > Now you tell me...
>
> Does your breath now smell of acetone?

It might if I didn't mix it with Super Tennants.

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Don W wrote:
> I can get a bottle of 50% isopropyl alcohol here in the UK from a
> dicount store for about 0.70 UK Pounds (approx 1 US dollar). I use it
> for general household cleaning.
>
> The bottle is 473 ml (1 US pint). The 50% is by volume.
>
> Alcohol is so heavily taxed in the UK and this is particularly cheap.
> I suspect that the price of 0.70 UKP many not cover the cost of the
> UK tax due on it.
>
> Does anyone know how much UK tax should be paid on 230 ml of isopropyl
> alcohol?

Only the dreaded VAT. No duty on IPA - 'cos no one drinks it. Had it been
ethanol.....

--
Ron Jones
Process Safety & Development Specialist
Don't repeat history, unreported chemical lab/plant near missesa at
Only two things are certain: The universe and
human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the universe. ~ Albert
Einstein

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Ron Jones wrote:

> Only the dreaded VAT. No duty on IPA - 'cos no one drinks it. Had it been
> ethanol.....

There is duty on Industrial Methylated Sprit though, and that is not
exactly drinkable.

--
Cheers,

John.

/=========================================================== ======\
| Internode Ltd - |
|----------------------------------------------------------- ------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=========================================================== ======/

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

On 11 Jul 2006, Ron Jones<> wrote:

> Don W wrote:
>> I can get a bottle of 50% isopropyl alcohol here in the UK from a
>> dicount store for about 0.70 UK Pounds (approx 1 US dollar). I
>> use it for general household cleaning.
>>
>> The bottle is 473 ml (1 US pint). The 50% is by volume.
>>
>> Alcohol is so heavily taxed in the UK and this is particularly
>> cheap. I suspect that the price of 0.70 UKP many not cover the
>> cost of the UK tax due on it.
>>
>> Does anyone know how much UK tax should be paid on 230 ml of
>> isopropyl alcohol?
>
> Only the dreaded VAT. No duty on IPA - 'cos no one drinks it. Had
> it been ethanol.....
>

No duty?

U pay about £4.50 for 500ml of isopropyl at my local chemist. I
thought the high-ish price was mainly for duty.

Am I being way over-charged?

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Don W wrote:
> On 11 Jul 2006, Ron Jones<> wrote:
>
>> Don W wrote:
>>> I can get a bottle of 50% isopropyl alcohol here in the UK from a
>>> dicount store for about 0.70 UK Pounds (approx 1 US dollar). I
>>> use it for general household cleaning.
>>>
>>> The bottle is 473 ml (1 US pint). The 50% is by volume.
>>>
>>> Alcohol is so heavily taxed in the UK and this is particularly
>>> cheap. I suspect that the price of 0.70 UKP many not cover the
>>> cost of the UK tax due on it.
>>>
>>> Does anyone know how much UK tax should be paid on 230 ml of
>>> isopropyl alcohol?
>> Only the dreaded VAT. No duty on IPA - 'cos no one drinks it. Had
>> it been ethanol.....
>>
>
> No duty?
>
> U pay about £4.50 for 500ml of isopropyl at my local chemist. I
> thought the high-ish price was mainly for duty.
>
> Am I being way over-charged?

Bulk cost per tonne is £380 ie 38p per litre


Which does look very attractive compared to petrol prices...
Still, methanol is 13p per litre.

Dirk

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 01:13:12 +0100,
Dirk Bruere at NeoPax <>
wrote in <>:
> Don W wrote:
>> On 11 Jul 2006, Ron Jones<> wrote:

>>> Don W wrote:
>>>> I can get a bottle of 50% isopropyl alcohol here in the UK from a
>>>> dicount store for about 0.70 UK Pounds (approx 1 US dollar). I
>>>> use it for general household cleaning.

>>>> The bottle is 473 ml (1 US pint). The 50% is by volume.

>>>> Alcohol is so heavily taxed in the UK and this is particularly
>>>> cheap. I suspect that the price of 0.70 UKP many not cover the
>>>> cost of the UK tax due on it.

>>>> Does anyone know how much UK tax should be paid on 230 ml of
>>>> isopropyl alcohol?

>>> Only the dreaded VAT. No duty on IPA - 'cos no one drinks it. Had
>>> it been ethanol.....

>> No duty?

>> U pay about £4.50 for 500ml of isopropyl at my local chemist. I
>> thought the high-ish price was mainly for duty.

>> Am I being way over-charged?

> Bulk cost per tonne is £380 ie 38p per litre
>

Actually, since its specific density is ~0.79, that's more like
30p/litre.


> Which does look very attractive compared to petrol prices...
> Still, methanol is 13p per litre.

Similar density, so closer to 10p. Admittedly, those prices are from
a 2002 survey, so probably a bit out of date now, especially where oil-derived
chemicals are concerned.

--
Ivan Reid, Electronic & Computer Engineering, ___ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. |cern.ch] Room 40-1-B12, CERN
KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Dr Ivan D. Reid wrote:
> On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 01:13:12 +0100,
> Dirk Bruere at NeoPax <>
> wrote in <>:
>> Don W wrote:
>>> On 11 Jul 2006, Ron Jones<> wrote:
>
>>>> Don W wrote:
>>>>> I can get a bottle of 50% isopropyl alcohol here in the UK from a
>>>>> dicount store for about 0.70 UK Pounds (approx 1 US dollar). I
>>>>> use it for general household cleaning.
>
>>>>> The bottle is 473 ml (1 US pint). The 50% is by volume.
>
>>>>> Alcohol is so heavily taxed in the UK and this is particularly
>>>>> cheap. I suspect that the price of 0.70 UKP many not cover the
>>>>> cost of the UK tax due on it.
>
>>>>> Does anyone know how much UK tax should be paid on 230 ml of
>>>>> isopropyl alcohol?
>
>>>> Only the dreaded VAT. No duty on IPA - 'cos no one drinks it. Had
>>>> it been ethanol.....
>
>>> No duty?
>
>>> U pay about £4.50 for 500ml of isopropyl at my local chemist. I
>>> thought the high-ish price was mainly for duty.
>
>>> Am I being way over-charged?
>
>> Bulk cost per tonne is £380 ie 38p per litre
>>
>
> Actually, since its specific density is ~0.79, that's more like
> 30p/litre.
>
>
>> Which does look very attractive compared to petrol prices...
>> Still, methanol is 13p per litre.
>
> Similar density, so closer to 10p. Admittedly, those prices are from
> a 2002 survey, so probably a bit out of date now, especially where oil-derived
> chemicals are concerned.
>

Double it and it still looks good.

Dirk

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

On 11 Jul 2006 09:12:46 -0700, "> wrote:

>VAT only on retail sales at 17.5%.



<GASP> that's a STEEP sales tax... do you pay income tax also? what
about a regional/provisional sales or income taxes?

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

beav wrote:

> On 11 Jul 2006 09:12:46 -0700, "> wrote:
>
>>VAT only on retail sales at 17.5%.
>
> <GASP> that's a STEEP sales tax... do you pay income tax also?

Yes, and National Insurance, which is another type of income tax.

> what about a regional/provisional sales or income taxes?

No.


Health care costs are a lot cheaper than in America though.

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Don W wrote:
> On 11 Jul 2006, Ron Jones<> wrote:
>
>> Don W wrote:
>>> I can get a bottle of 50% isopropyl alcohol here in the UK from a
>>> dicount store for about 0.70 UK Pounds (approx 1 US dollar). I
>>> use it for general household cleaning.
>>>
>>> The bottle is 473 ml (1 US pint). The 50% is by volume.
>>>
>>> Alcohol is so heavily taxed in the UK and this is particularly
>>> cheap. I suspect that the price of 0.70 UKP many not cover the
>>> cost of the UK tax due on it.
>>>
>>> Does anyone know how much UK tax should be paid on 230 ml of
>>> isopropyl alcohol?
>>
>> Only the dreaded VAT. No duty on IPA - 'cos no one drinks it. Had
>> it been ethanol.....
>>
>
> No duty?
>
> U pay about £4.50 for 500ml of isopropyl at my local chemist. I
> thought the high-ish price was mainly for duty.
>
> Am I being way over-charged?

You are paying for someone(s) to bottle it, store it in bottles, pack it,
distribute it, allow for breakage and clean up - now you know how the
farmers feel with their milk prices...
Off hand, I would estimate that the buying price is around 150-200GBP for a
200 litre drum - but you would not be able (as a private person) to buy a
drum in the UK.


--
Ron Jones
Process Safety & Development Specialist
Don't repeat history, unreported chemical lab/plant near misses at
Only two things are certain: The universe and
human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the universe. ~ Albert
Einstein

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:59:38 +0100, Jonathan Bryce <>
wrote:

|beav wrote:
|
|> On 11 Jul 2006 09:12:46 -0700, "> wrote:
|>
|>>VAT only on retail sales at 17.5%.
|>
|> <GASP> that's a STEEP sales tax... do you pay income tax also?
|
|Yes, and National Insurance, which is another type of income tax.
|
|> what about a regional/provisional sales or income taxes?
|
|No.
|
|
|Health care costs are a lot cheaper than in America though.

Free at the point of need.
Good old NHS :-)
--
Dave Fawthrop <dave hyphenologist co uk> Google Groups is IME the *worst*
method of accessing usenet. GG subscribers would be well advised get a
newsreader, say Agent, and a newsserver, say news.individual.net. These
will allow them: to see only *new* posts, a killfile, and other goodies.

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Dave Fawthrop wrote:

> |Health care costs are a lot cheaper than in America though.
>
> Free at the point of need.
> Good old NHS :-)

I wouldn't use the word free when there are prescription charges, optician
charges and dentist charges, but certainly a lot cheaper.

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Jonathan Bryce wrote:
> Dave Fawthrop wrote:
>
>>> Health care costs are a lot cheaper than in America though.
>>
>> Free at the point of need.
>> Good old NHS :-)
>
> I wouldn't use the word free when there are prescription charges,
> optician charges and dentist charges, but certainly a lot cheaper.

Only if you can find a dentist that's not private...

--
Ron Jones
Process Safety & Development Specialist
Don't repeat history, unreported chemical lab/plant near missesa at
Only two things are certain: The universe and
human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the universe. ~ Albert
Einstein

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Dave Fawthrop wrote:
> On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:59:38 +0100, Jonathan Bryce <>
> wrote:
>
> |
> |
> |Health care costs are a lot cheaper than in America though.
>
> Free at the point of need.

only after you've spent 45mins waiting for a place in the hospital car
park for a parking spot & then forked out a tenner or more for the
parking fee.

Not to mention the instant clampers at the surgery who'll get you even
if its a dire emergency.

nasty stealth tax

> Good old NHS :-)

& economics of a mad house.

Means hospital medical staff (=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3 per hour) & everyone else
waste time due to late arrival of patients, missed appontments, etc etc

stupid old NHS :-((

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

In message <>,
ironer <> writes
>
>Dave Fawthrop wrote:
>> On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:59:38 +0100, Jonathan Bryce <>
>> wrote:
>>
>> |
>> |
>> |Health care costs are a lot cheaper than in America though.
>>
>> Free at the point of need.
>
>only after you've spent 45mins waiting for a place in the hospital car
>park for a parking spot & then forked out a tenner or more for the
>parking fee.

What annoys me is that here it's pay and display, where you pay in
advance based on how long you're going to be, how the hell do I know how
long the wait's going to be for A&E, and how long it's going to take
after that? I just end up buying 24hrs each time.

--
bof at bof dot me dot uk

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Post removed (X-No-Archive: yes)

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Ron Jones wrote:

> Only if you can find a dentist that's not private...

Shop around.
There's bound to be an NHS practice not too far away.

--
- Best Gym Equipment & Bodybuilding Supplements UK.
- TRADE PRICED SUPPLEMENTS for ALL!
- UK's No.1 Fitness Equipment Suppliers.
- Worlds best prices on the Worlds best Rower.

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 12:23:36 +0100, bof <>
wrote:

>In message <>,
>ironer <> writes
>>
>>Dave Fawthrop wrote:
>>> On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:59:38 +0100, Jonathan Bryce <>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> |
>>> |
>>> |Health care costs are a lot cheaper than in America though.
>>>
>>> Free at the point of need.
>>
>>only after you've spent 45mins waiting for a place in the hospital car
>>park for a parking spot & then forked out a tenner or more for the
>>parking fee.
>
>What annoys me is that here it's pay and display, where you pay in
>advance based on how long you're going to be, how the hell do I know how
>long the wait's going to be for A&E, and how long it's going to take
>after that? I just end up buying 24hrs each time.



wow! i had no idea...

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 15:37:38 GMT, "Pet @ www.gymratz.co.uk ;¬)"
<> wrote:

>Ron Jones wrote:
>
>> Only if you can find a dentist that's not private...
>
>Shop around.

You jest.

>There's bound to be an NHS practice not too far away.

Better to fly to Poland or Hungary.

The patients don't queue round the block in their thousands (overnight
even) for nothing you know. That "Find an NHS Dentist" site tells
porkies. It includes dentists who have no NHS availability but who
maintain a "waiting list" . There is absolutely nothing to prevent an
NHS dentist who has an NHS patient who pops his clogs one day filling
his timeslot with a private patient who can pay the requisite
£175/hour for routine treatment, if he can find one..

Even the dental emergency clinics at NHS Hospitals are mostly fiction
and in any event can only make appointments in the evening when
commercial dentists are closed. Presumably for contractual reasons.

Mustn't deny the dentists their gold plated crusts.

DG

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

The message <>
from Derek ^ <> contains these words:

> >There's bound to be an NHS practice not too far away.

> Better to fly to Poland or Hungary.

> The patients don't queue round the block in their thousands (overnight
> even) for nothing you know.

Though round here in Telford there were places at NHS dentists going
begging a couple of months ago. We had no trouble when we moved here,
and spaces are still available.

Despite this, people in Telford were complaining to the papers about the
lack of NHS dentists - apparently they were only ringing the first few
on the list and stopping before getting to those with spaces, claming
they were all full.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 16:31:18 GMT, beav <> wrote:

>>What annoys me is that here it's pay and display, where you pay in
>>advance based on how long you're going to be, how the hell do I know how
>>long the wait's going to be for A&E, and how long it's going to take
>>after that? I just end up buying 24hrs each time.
>
>
>
>wow! i had no idea...

Just announced in Leeds last week £12 to park at the Leeds General
Infirmary, or St James's.

Most I've been charged was £18.00 at Southampton General.

St Georges, Tooting wanted to charge me £8.00 for 2 mins over 4 hours.

Customers queueing tp pay at the pay station in Russel's Hall
(Wolverhampton) complaining like buggery, cos it's gone up 500% in one
year, at having to pay £2.50 per half day to visit sick relatives in
hospital. It's about half the Old Age Pension, just in hospital car
parking.

Free at the point of use Eh?

DG

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

"Pet @ www.gymratz.co.uk ;¬)" wrote:
> Ron Jones wrote:
>
>> Only if you can find a dentist that's not private...
>
> Shop around.
> There's bound to be an NHS practice not too far away.

You don't live in North Lancs / South Cumbria. "Rare as hen's teeth",
doesn't even start to describe it.

--
Ron Jones
Process Safety & Development Specialist
Don't repeat history, unreported chemical lab/plant near missesa at
Only two things are certain: The universe and
human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the universe. ~ Albert
Einstein

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

John Weston wrote:
>>> Don W wrote:
it been ethanol.....
>>>
>>
>> No duty?
>>
>> U pay about £4.50 for 500ml of isopropyl at my local chemist. I
>> thought the high-ish price was mainly for duty.
>>
>> Am I being way over-charged?
>
>
> Under £1 a litre, inc VAT, for cleaning strength, in 5L
> amounts from:
>
>
> SKU=SAIPA5L&N=411
>
>
>
> No other taxes on IPA (Unless that is India Pale Ale :-))

????? 47.65GBP for 5L is not 1 pound/litre, or I am gong mad.....

--
Ron Jones
Process Safety & Development Specialist
Don't repeat history, unreported chemical lab/plant near missesa at
Only two things are certain: The universe and
human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the universe. ~ Albert
Einstein

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 19:59:03 +0100, Ron Jones wrote
(in article <44b69797$0$11846$>):

> "Pet @ www.gymratz.co.uk ;¬)" wrote:
>> Ron Jones wrote:
>>
>>> Only if you can find a dentist that's not private...
>>
>> Shop around.
>> There's bound to be an NHS practice not too far away.
>
> You don't live in North Lancs / South Cumbria. "Rare as hen's teeth",
> doesn't even start to describe it.
>
>

Perfect. Now if only the GPs would follow the example of the dentists...

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 14:10:32 +0100, John Weston
<> wrote:


>Under £1 a litre, inc VAT, for cleaning strength, in 5L
>amounts from:
>
>
>SKU=SAIPA5L&N=411
>
>
>

Have you been sniffing somnething?

£47.65 including VAT makes it a bit more than a quid a litre!




--

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Matt wrote:
> On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 14:10:32 +0100, John Weston
> <> wrote:
>
>
>> Under £1 a litre, inc VAT, for cleaning strength, in 5L
>> amounts from:
>>
>>
>> SKU=SAIPA5L&N=411
>>
>>
>>
>
> Have you been sniffing somnething?
>
> £47.65 including VAT makes it a bit more than a quid a litre!

Obviously sniffing the isopropanol... ;-)

--
Ron Jones
Process Safety & Development Specialist
Don't repeat history, unreported chemical lab/plant near missesa at
Only two things are certain: The universe and
human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the universe. ~ Albert
Einstein

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Post removed (X-No-Archive: yes)

Re: UK tax on cheap isopropyl

Derek ^ <>typed


> On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 16:31:18 GMT, beav <> wrote:

> >>What annoys me is that here it's pay and display, where you pay in
> >>advance based on how long you're going to be, how the hell do I know how
> >>long the wait's going to be for A&E, and how long it's going to take
> >>after that? I just end up buying 24hrs each time.
> >
> >
> >
> >wow! i had no idea...

> Just announced in Leeds last week £12 to park at the Leeds General
> Infirmary, or St James's.

> Most I've been charged was £18.00 at Southampton General.

> St Georges, Tooting wanted to charge me £8.00 for 2 mins over 4 hours.

> Customers queueing tp pay at the pay station in Russel's Hall
> (Wolverhampton) complaining like buggery, cos it's gone up 500% in one
> year, at having to pay £2.50 per half day to visit sick relatives in
> hospital. It's about half the Old Age Pension, just in hospital car
> parking.

> Free at the point of use Eh?

> DG

Have you been following me round the country?

I have worked in Russell's Hall, Dudley,
LGI Leeds,
St George's, Tooting and been to study sessions at Southampton General...

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.