Vape duty stamps explained. What to look for from now on.
Since 1 October 2026, a small new label has started appearing on vape packaging across the UK: the vaping duty stamp. It arrived alongside the new Vaping Products Duty, and by spring 2027 every bottle, pod and pack on the shelf will need one.
So what is it, what does it look like, and why are some products on sale without one right now? Here's the plain-English version.
Short version? Here you go.
What is a vape duty stamp?
It's a small, tamper-resistant label that shows a vaping product has gone through the UK's new duty system.
On 1 October 2026 HMRC introduced two things at once: Vaping Products Duty, a flat tax on vape liquid, and the Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme, which puts a stamp on the pack to show the product is legitimately intended for the UK market.
You'll already be familiar with the idea if you've ever looked closely at a pack of cigarettes or a bottle of spirits. The aim is the same: make it easier to spot genuine stock and harder for illicit, non-compliant products to slip into the market.
If you want the background on the tax itself and what it means for prices, our guide to the UK vape tax and vape prices covers it in detail. This post focuses on the stamp.
Key dates to know.
The scheme is being phased in, which is why you'll see a mix of stamped and unstamped products for a few months.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 Sept 2026 | Approved businesses could start ordering digital stamps (stamped products couldn't be sold before 1 October) |
| 1 Oct 2026 | Vaping Products Duty starts at £2.20 per 10ml. Products made in or imported into the UK from this date need a stamp |
| 30 Nov 2026 | Last day businesses can buy the temporary "transitional" stamps |
| 31 Dec 2026 | Last day transitional stamps can be applied. From 1 January 2027 only digital stamps can be used |
| 31 Mar 2027 | End of the retail transition. Last day shops can sell eligible unstamped stock |
| 1 Apr 2027 | Every vaping product sold or supplied in the UK must carry a valid stamp |
Seeing an unstamped bottle in October 2026 isn't automatically a red flag. Stock that was made or imported before 1 October can legally be sold until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027, though, an unstamped product is a warning sign.
What does a vape duty stamp look like?
According to HMRC's guidance, a vaping duty stamp is a rectangular label, 18mm wide and 42mm long, so roughly the size of a short strip across the side or base of a box.
There are two types you might come across:
Transitional stamps have physical security features only. They're a stop-gap to help manufacturers get started, and they can only be applied until the end of 2026.
Digital stamps have the same kind of physical security features plus a unique scannable code. That code lets businesses in the supply chain track and authenticate each product. From 1 January 2027, these are the only stamps that can be applied.
Look on the outermost retail packaging: the box or carton you pick up in the shop, rather than the bottle or pod inside it. A multipack of prefilled pods, for example, has the stamp on the pack, not on each individual pod.
Which vape products need a stamp?
The duty, and so the stamp, is all about the liquid. It applies to all vaping liquids made in or imported into the UK, and that includes:
✓ 10ml e-liquids and nic salts in bottles
✓ Prefilled pods and cartridges
✓ Prefilled devices
✓ Nicotine-free liquids, including 50ml and 100ml shortfills
That last one catches a lot of people out. Even though shortfills contain no nicotine, they're still covered by the duty and will still need a stamp. (If you're new to shortfills, see how shortfills and nic shots work.)
Empty hardware like a refillable pod kit with no liquid in it is a different story, as the duty is charged on the liquid. If a kit comes with prefilled pods in the box, though, that liquid is duty-liable.
Why are some vapes still unstamped?
Because of the retail transition period. HMRC has allowed shops and wholesalers to keep selling eligible stock they already had (products made in or imported into the UK before 1 October 2026) right up to 31 March 2027.
So over the next few months you'll see stamped and unstamped versions of the same product sitting side by side. Both are fine to buy during the transition. What changes on 1 April 2027 is that shops must have cleared any remaining unstamped stock, and every product on sale must carry a valid stamp.
Retailers don't need to register with HMRC or buy stamps themselves. That's the job of approved manufacturers, UK representatives and warehousekeepers. A shop's job is to buy from compliant suppliers and stop selling unstamped stock after the deadline.
No stamp in October? Probably fine. No stamp after April 2027? Walk away.
Your everyday favourites.
Whether you use 10ml nic salts, prefilled pods or shortfills, here are a few of our most popular picks. Prices are correct at the time of writing.
How much duty is in your vape?
The duty is a flat £2.20 for every 10ml of liquid, nicotine or not. Here's roughly what that works out to on common sizes (VAT is then charged on the duty-inclusive price):
| Product size | Liquid | Duty |
|---|---|---|
| Prefilled pod | 2ml | £0.44 |
| 10ml bottle | 10ml | £2.20 |
| 50ml shortfill | 50ml | £11.00 |
| 100ml shortfill | 100ml | £22.00 |
Bigger bottles see the biggest change, which is why shortfill prices are expected to move the most as stamped stock replaces older stock. Our vape tax price guide breaks this down further.
How to make sure you're buying the real thing.
The whole point of the stamp is to help genuine, compliant products stand out. A few simple habits help:
Buy from established UK retailers with a physical address and proper age checks. If a seller online doesn't ask you to verify your age, that tells you a lot.
Check the outer pack. During the transition, an unstamped product isn't necessarily a problem. From 1 April 2027, any vaping product without a valid stamp shouldn't be on sale in the UK.
Be wary of prices that look too good to be true. With duty now added to every 10ml, very cheap large-volume liquid or oversized prefilled products are worth a second look.
Every order from I Love Vapour is age-checked under Challenge 25. Find out how that works in our Challenge 25 vape rules guide, or browse our 10ml e-liquids and pods and cartridges.
Ask us in store. We'll talk you through it.
Not sure whether a product is stamped, or what the duty means for your usual order? Pop into your local I Love Vapour store and our team will happily explain.
Or stock up online, with free UK delivery on orders over £20.
Shop 10ml e-liquids →Vape duty stamps: the questions we get asked.
When did vape duty stamps start in the UK?
The Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme started on 1 October 2026, on the same day as Vaping Products Duty. Products made in or imported into the UK from that date need a stamp, and from 1 April 2027 every vaping product sold in the UK must carry one.
Is it illegal to buy a vape without a duty stamp?
Not during the transition. Shops can legally sell eligible unstamped stock that was made or imported before 1 October 2026 until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027, vaping products sold in the UK must carry a valid stamp.
Do nicotine-free shortfills need a duty stamp?
Yes. Vaping Products Duty applies to all vaping liquids, whether or not they contain nicotine, so shortfills are covered by the duty and the stamp scheme.
Where is the duty stamp on a vape?
It goes on the outermost retail packaging, such as the box or carton. On a multipack of prefilled pods, look on the outer pack rather than on each pod.
How much is the UK vape duty?
Vaping Products Duty is a flat £2.20 per 10ml of liquid. That's £2.20 on a 10ml bottle, about 44p on a 2ml pod and £22 on a 100ml shortfill, with VAT charged on top.
Do I need a duty stamp on a vape kit with no liquid?
The duty is charged on vaping liquid, so empty hardware is treated differently. If a kit includes prefilled pods, the liquid in those pods is duty-liable.
18+ only. Our products are only for adults aged 18 and over. Challenge 25 applies in all our stores and to every online order.
Warning: This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance. Vaping products are not suitable for non-smokers, people under 18, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.