The global financial crisis and euro crisis have caused VAT (value added tax) rates to increase considerably in most EU countries since 2008, reaching an average of 21.3%. The highest rate is to be found in Hungary, which will inflate the price of your purchases by a whopping 27%. Here is a summary of the VAT increments over the last five years.
Hungary : from 20 to 27%
Croatia : from 21 to 25%
Finland : from 22 to 24%
Romania : from 19 to 24%
Ireland : from 21 to 23%
Portugal : from 20 to 23%
Greece : from 13 to 23%
Italy : from 20 to 21% (soon to 22%)
Czech Republic : from 20 to 21%
Netherlands: from 19 to 21%
Latvia : from 18 to 21%
Lithuania : from 18 to 21%
Spain : from 18 to 21%
Estonia : from 18 to 20%
United Kingdom : from 17.5 to 20%
Cyprus : from 15 to 18%
The rates remained unchanged in the following countries.
Denmark : 25%
Norway : 25%
Sweden : 25%
Belgium : 21%
Austria : 20% (but considering to raise to 22%)
Slovakia : 20%
Slovenia : 20%
France : 19.6%
Germany : 19%
Malta : 18%
Luxembourg : 15%
Hungary : from 20 to 27%
Croatia : from 21 to 25%
Finland : from 22 to 24%
Romania : from 19 to 24%
Ireland : from 21 to 23%
Portugal : from 20 to 23%
Greece : from 13 to 23%
Italy : from 20 to 21% (soon to 22%)
Czech Republic : from 20 to 21%
Netherlands: from 19 to 21%
Latvia : from 18 to 21%
Lithuania : from 18 to 21%
Spain : from 18 to 21%
Estonia : from 18 to 20%
United Kingdom : from 17.5 to 20%
Cyprus : from 15 to 18%
The rates remained unchanged in the following countries.
Denmark : 25%
Norway : 25%
Sweden : 25%
Belgium : 21%
Austria : 20% (but considering to raise to 22%)
Slovakia : 20%
Slovenia : 20%
France : 19.6%
Germany : 19%
Malta : 18%
Luxembourg : 15%