VAT tax take

VAT now 21% of HMRC’s total tax take VAT receipts made up 21% of HMRC's total tax income in 2017/18, according to new research - up from 18% in 2008/09. The total amount of VAT that is collected annually by HMRC had jumped by 60% from £78bn in 2008-09 to £125bn in 2017-18. HMRC's total tax take increased to £594bn last year and now stands at a 30-year high. It represents 33% of GDP and ranks the UK 20 out of 36 OECD countries for highest tax burden. France tops the table at 46%.