A new excise duty on vaping products came into force on 1 October 2026. Vaping Products Duty (VPD) applies to vaping liquids manufactured in, or imported into, the UK, whether or not they contain nicotine.
The duty is charged at £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid. It is paid by manufacturers, importers and certain wholesalers, although businesses may choose to pass the cost on to retailers and consumers. Vaping products kept in approved warehouses can be held without paying the duty until they are released for sale.
The introduction of VPD is accompanied by a new Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme. Vaping products manufactured or imported from 1 October 2026 must carry a duty stamp on their retail packaging. Transitional stamps without digital functionality can be used until 31 December 2026, with digitally enabled stamps becoming mandatory for new products from 1 January 2027. The stamps are intended to improve traceability and help HMRC and other enforcement agencies tackle illicit sales.
A six-month transitional grace period applies to existing eligible stock. Wholesalers and retailers can continue to sell unstamped, non-duty-liable stock until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027, all vaping products sold in the UK must carry a valid vaping duty stamp.
New personal allowance rules also apply to travellers. Those arriving in Great Britain can bring up to 50ml of vaping liquid for personal use without paying duty or tax. Amounts above this must be declared, with duty and tax payable on the full quantity.
The government expects VPD to raise more than £550 million a year by 2030-31. The new duty was first announced at Spring Budget 2024 and then confirmed at Autumn Budget 2024.
