You have probably seen "Vaping Products Duty" everywhere over the last few weeks. Maybe you are wondering what it actually means, why the government is introducing it, or what changes for your next order. So let us walk through it together, in plain English.
"Genuine, tested and fully compliant" sits at the heart of everything we do, and we want you to feel just as confident about the tax side of vaping as you already do about the products themselves.
What is the Vaping Products Duty?
The Vaping Products Duty, or VPD, is a new excise tax on e-liquid. The government confirmed the policy at the Autumn Budget in 2024, and it takes effect on 1 October 2026. From that date, every vaping liquid sold in the UK carries a flat rate of 22p per ml. That rate stays the same whether your bottle holds 20mg of nicotine or none at all, since the duty taxes volume rather than strength.
VPD sits inside the same excise framework that already covers alcohol and tobacco, under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. In other words, vaping now joins a system the UK has used for decades. Nothing about your device, your coils or your tank changes, though. The duty applies only to the liquid itself.
Why is the government introducing it?
Three reasons sit behind the new duty, and each one ties to a goal the government has stated publicly.
- Parity with tobacco and alcohol. Both already carry excise duty, so bringing vaping into line closes an obvious gap.
- The smoke-free generation plan. The government has linked VPD directly to its wider ambition to cut smoking rates and curb youth vaping.
- A crackdown on the illicit market. A flat duty, paired with a visible duty stamp, gives Trading Standards a far easier way to spot untaxed, unregulated stock on the shelf.
Here is the part that matters most for you, though. That last reason is where compliance turns into something you can actually see, so let us look at the stamp itself.
The duty stamp: a mark of genuine, taxed stock
From October 1st, 2026, every new vaping product entering the UK market needs a valid duty stamp. HMRC has already released the design, and the transitional stamps arrive in two eye-catching colours: red and yellow. Here is the rollout, step by step.
- April to 30 November 2026: manufacturers and importers can buy the transitional paper stamps.
- Until 31 December 2026: businesses can still apply those transitional stamps to eligible stock.
- From 1 January 2027: only the digital duty stamp can be applied. Each one carries a scannable code, so the product can be traced right through the supply chain.
- Until 31 March 2027: shops can keep selling existing unstamped stock that they already hold.
- From 1 April 2027: every vaping product on sale needs a valid stamp, transitional or digital.
For you as a shopper, the stamp becomes a simple, visible proof point. If a product carries one, the duty has been paid and the stock has passed through a properly regulated supply chain. That is exactly the reassurance our "genuine, tested and fully compliant" promise is built on, and it is a promise we are not about to let slip. We are making sure every eligible product on our shelves carries the right stamp, right on schedule.
What does this mean for your wallet?
Prices will move, yes. Because the duty charges by volume, every ml picks up a flat 22p, whatever the strength. Larger formats and multi-shot setups feel the change more, simply because they hold more liquid. Devices, coils, tanks and pods stay untouched, since the duty applies purely to the liquid inside them.
If you want the full breakdown by format, including which options soften the impact, our guide to the cheapest way to keep vaping after the duty walks through the numbers. And if shortfills are your usual pick, our dedicated piece on shortfills after the duty covers exactly where they still make sense.
Quick answers to common questions
- Does the duty apply to 0mg e-liquid? Yes. The duty taxes all e-liquid by volume, and nicotine-free bottles are no exception.
- Are devices, pods or coils taxed? No. VPD applies only to the liquid itself, so hardware prices don't move because of this duty.
- Can shops still sell unstamped stock? Yes, existing eligible stock can still be sold until 31 March 2027, so you won't see empty shelves overnight.
- Will prices jump the moment October arrives? Not in one go. The grace periods above exist precisely to smooth the transition for retailers and shoppers alike.
What to expect from My Vapery
We have spent the months leading up to October preparing quietly behind the scenes, so your shopping experience barely changes on the surface. The brands we work with are working through the necessary approvals, our stock is moving toward duty-stamped packaging, and our pricing will reflect the new duty honestly, with no hidden mark-ups.
The good news? The one thing that will not change is the range you love. Every nic salt, shortfill, pod kit and pouch you already buy from us stays exactly as genuine, tested and compliant as it always has been.
A tax that changes the bill, not the trust
The Vaping Products Duty adds a new line to the cost of vaping, but it does not touch the quality, safety or availability of the products you rely on. If anything, the stamp scheme makes it easier to spot stock you can trust, and harder for the illicit market to hide in plain sight. My Vapery will keep bringing you the premium brands you already love, fully compliant, properly stamped and ready to ship, well before and long after October arrives.
Ready to stock up? Browse our nic salts, shortfills and nicotine pouches today, and shop knowing every bottle is exactly what it says it is.
