What is Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) and how does it affect the cost of insurance?

What is Insurance Premium Tax?

Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) is a government-introduced tax on insurance policies including car, home, travel and pet which every insurance provider has to charge.

There are two rates of IPT – standard and high. Introduced in 1994, the standard IPT rate was 2.5%, rising to 12% in the past 23 years. The higher rate remains at 20%.

When was Insurance Premium Tax introduced?

This insurance tax has been around since the early ‘90s but has hit the headlines more in recent years due to the regular hikes and the impact it has on motorists’ insurance. The Government introduced IPT as it believed the insurance industry wasn’t paying enough tax – unlike other businesses, insurance isn’t subject to VAT.

IPT rate rises

• 1 October, 1994 - introduced at 2.5%
• 1 April, 1997 - rises to 4%
• 1 July, 1999 -  5%
• 4 January, 2011 -  6%
• 1 November, 2015 -  9.5%
• 1 October, 2016 - 10%
• 1 June, 2017 - 12%

While car and van insurance is subject to the standard rate of IPT, there is a higher rate at 20% - which is added to travel insurance, mechanical/electrical appliances insurance and other motor insurance including motor vehicles used for people with disabilities.

Is IPT VAT?

The most common form of tax in the UK – VAT – is not applicable to insurance, so the government requires anyone buying insurance to pay IPT instead. Anyone buying an insurance policy will have the IPT included in their quote price, but the tax is passed onto HMRC by the insurance provider.

Is any insurance exempt from IPT?

Yes – IPT does not apply to the following types of insurance:

• Life insurance
• Mortgage insurance
• Commercial ships and aircraft
• International railway rolling stock
• Lifeboats and lifeboat equipment
• Goods in international transit   

Uninsured driving

It’s undeniable that many people will feel the 12% tax is unjust, but it is unavoidable – car insurance is a legal requirement for anyone driving on UK roads.

Worryingly, the Motor Insurer's Bureau (MIB) has recently reported an increase in the number of claims against uninsured drivers on UK roads – the first increase in over a decade, with speculation that increased premiums could be a factor.

The MIB's chief executive, Ashton West, told the BBC: "It's early days, it's difficult to know exactly why, but we've seen insurance premiums rise in recent times and it's possible there is a link between the cost of insurance and people's propensity to drive without insurance.”

But driving without insurance is simply not worth the risks. As well as receiving six penalty points you could face an unlimited fine and even be banned from driving. For more information on the penalties associated with driving without insurance, see our guide: Is My Car Insured?