From 1 October 2026, the Government is introducing a new tax on vape liquid called Vaping Products Duty (VPD).
This is an industry-wide Government tax affecting vape liquid sold across the UK — it isn't a Tablites price increase.
It applies to bottled e-liquid, shortfills and the liquid in prefilled vape kits and pods.
Here's what you need to know.
How much is the new Vape Tax?
The new duty is £2.20 per 10ml of vape liquid. With VAT added, that's an additional £2.64 per 10ml.
It applies to all e-liquid regardless of nicotine strength — including 0mg nicotine-free e-liquids.
The tax is based on the amount of liquid, not the amount of nicotine.
What could this mean for prices?
Here are some examples using today's prices to show the potential impact:
| Product / offer | Today's price | New duty + VAT | Illustrative price after tax* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 × 10ml e-liquid | £3.99 | +£2.64 | £6.63 |
| 3 × 10ml e-liquids | £10.00 | +£7.92 | £17.92 |
| 4 × 10ml e-liquids | £10.00 | +£10.56 | £20.56 |
| 10 × 10ml e-liquids | £30.00 | +£26.40 | £56.40 |
| 10ml prefilled kit / pod | £6.99 | +£2.64 | £9.63 |
| 2 × 100ml shortfills + nic shots | £25.00 | +£63.36 | £88.36 |
*These examples show today's prices with the new Government duty and VAT added. They are for illustration only and are not confirmed future Tablites selling prices.
As you can see, the impact becomes much greater on larger quantities because the tax is charged according to how much vape liquid the product contains.
Will prices change on 1 October?
Not necessarily.
There is a six-month sell-through period for qualifying pre-duty stock, which can continue to be sold until 31 March 2027.
This means prices won't all change overnight.
Instead, retailers will gradually move onto duty-paid products as their existing pre-duty stock sells through. Some products will therefore increase in price sooner than others.
We've planned ahead at Tablites
We've been preparing for this change well in advance.
We've placed a significantly larger final pre-duty order of Tablites e-liquid, with our overall stock planned to last through to the end of the sell-through period in March.
We've also deliberately ordered extra stock of our bestselling flavours and nicotine strengths.
Our aim is to keep Tablites e-liquid available at current pre-duty pricing for as much of the transition period as possible.
Can I avoid the Vape Tax?
In the long term, no. But you can delay how soon it affects you.
The new duty will eventually apply to qualifying vape liquid sold across the UK, so once pre-duty stocks have been exhausted, duty-paid pricing will become the new normal.
Until then, pre-duty e-liquid doesn't include the new Vape Tax.
That means if you regularly use the same e-liquid, buying a little further ahead while pre-duty stock remains available could help you delay the impact of the tax.
We've planned our Tablites e-liquid stocks to last through the sell-through period, but pre-duty stock is finite. How long individual flavours and strengths remain available will ultimately depend on demand.
What about prefilled vape kits and pods?
The liquid contained in prefilled vape kits and pods is also taxed.
For example, a prefilled product containing 10ml of vape liquid attracts the same £2.64 duty and VAT as a 10ml bottle of e-liquid.
Empty vape kits and hardware such as batteries, coils and tanks aren't subject to Vaping Products Duty. It's the vape liquid that's being taxed.
The dates to remember
1 October 2026
Vaping Products Duty begins.
October 2026 – March 2027
Qualifying pre-duty stock can continue to be sold while stocks last.
31 March 2027
The sell-through period ends.
1 April 2027
Vape liquids sold in the UK must carry the appropriate Vaping Duty Stamp.
The bottom line
The Vape Tax will make e-liquid more expensive across the UK, but the change won't happen to every product overnight.
We've prepared well in advance and significantly increased our pre-duty stocks, particularly across our bestselling Tablites flavours and strengths.
Pre-duty stock is finite, though, and availability will ultimately depend on demand.
We've been helping smokers and vapers navigate changes in the industry since 2011, and we'll approach this one in exactly the same way: straightforward advice, fair prices and plenty of preparation.
For a more detailed explanation of Vaping Products Duty, affected products, duty stamps and the new regulations, read our full UK Vape Tax 2026 Guide.
Thanks for choosing Tablites.
Team Tablites
