Two British minicab operators, Liverpool’s Delta Taxis and Cardiff-based Veezu, are seeking £500,000 in crowdfunding to continue their long-running legal dispute with Uber.
The case, set to be heard by the Supreme Court in July, hinges on whether private-hire operators outside London should charge VAT on fares — a shift that could add at least 20 per cent to the cost of trips.
Uber began adding VAT to its London rides in 2021 following a separate legal ruling but is now pushing for a nationwide, uniform approach. Delta and Veezu argue that extending VAT to their services would devastate smaller operators, drive up costs for passengers reliant on local taxi services, and potentially force thousands of self-employed drivers out of business. According to Veezu’s data, 43 per cent of minicab trips involve essential journeys for medical, work, or educational purposes.
Paul McLaughlin, of Delta Taxis, described the case as a “David v Goliath moment”, while Veezu’s chief legal officer, Nia Cooper, warned that imposing VAT beyond London could make fares unaffordable for vulnerable passengers. An Uber spokesperson countered that “there should be consistency throughout the UK to ensure all operators are required to have the same model”.
