A concerned shopper has raised questions over a tax charge made by a local Turkish supermarket in Enfield, sparking wider calls for transparency in receipts issued by small retailers.
The customer, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims that Fresh Food Centre, located on Hertford Road, charged a “TAX TOTAL” on their purchase despite being a local, independent supermarket. The individual has shared a receipt dated 13 April 2025 at 10:27pm, showing a £3.84 tax charge on a total purchase of £37.90.
In a statement attached to the shared receipt, the shopper said:
“I have done some shopping and they have taken TAX PAYMENT from me as a local supermarket. I have taken everything back and requested a refund. They tried not to give it or explain why tax was taken.”
The customer returned all the goods and was eventually refunded, but expressed concern that others might unknowingly face similar charges:
“Please share this… I would not want anyone to fall into the same situation as me.”
Receipt Breakdown
The receipt shows typical grocery items such as:
While VAT (Value Added Tax) is common in UK shops, it typically applies to specific items and is often included in the shelf price, especially in retail food and drink sales. Supermarkets, particularly small or independent ones, are required to register for VAT only if their taxable turnover exceeds the government threshold (currently £85,000 annually). If VAT is charged, it must be clearly stated on receipts.
In this case, the TAX TOTAL of £3.84 raises the question of whether the shop is registered for VAT and whether such charges are being handled appropriately.
Consumer Advice and Authorities
Local residents are now being urged to check their receipts carefully and report concerns to Trading Standards or HMRC, who can investigate whether businesses are operating within legal guidelines.
Consumers with similar experiences are advised to:
- Request a detailed receipt
- Check if the business is VAT-registered via the HMRC website
- Report unregistered VAT collection to HMRC Fraud Hotline
Fresh Food Centre Declines Comment
As of now, Fresh Food Centre has not provided a public statement in response to the incident.
