VAT costs for “Concert for Ukraine” tickets donated to Charity Appeal

• Chancellor supports charity concert to raise money for victims of the Ukraine war – announcing that all tax collected from ticket sales will go directly to the good cause.

• Funding equivalent to the cost of VAT on “Concert for Ukraine” tickets will be donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

• This fresh £100,000 donation comes on top of the UK’s largest ever Aid Match contribution to DEC worth £25 million. The government has in total announced £220 million in much needed humanitarian aid for Ukraine

Hosted by ITV next Tuesday in Birmingham, the Concert for Ukraine will feature stars including Ed Sheeran, Snow Patrol, Gregory Porter and Camila Cabello – with all proceeds going directly to Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Tickets sales are subject to VAT, but to ensure all proceeds go towards helping the humanitarian effort in Ukraine, Rishi Sunak said the government would be making a donation directly to the charity which includes the amount that would be paid in VAT on tickets.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said;

The British people have shown incredible generosity by donating millions of pounds to the Ukraine humanitarian appeal and I’m delighted to be able to pledge our support to this event and its worthy cause by donating the cost of VAT on ticket sales.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine and will do everything we can to support them.

This comes in addition to the UK’s pledge to match fund the first £25 million donated to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal – the government’s largest ever Aid Match contribution to the DEC. The government has in total announced £220 million in much needed humanitarian aid to provide rapid relief and emergency aid to civilians suffering the conflict in Ukraine.

Further information

• This total donation will amount to £100,000

• The DEC is made up of 15 member charities who are experts in humanitarian aid, including Oxfam, Save the Children, British Red Cross, Christian Aid and Islamic Aid.

• The show is produced by Livewire Pictures. Global, with the Media & Entertainment Group as media partner and Marks & Spencer as headline sponsors for the broadcast. Tickets went on sale on 22 March, ITV will donate all sponsorship and advertising revenue from the broadcast of the show and individual viewers will be encouraged to donate.