Bolt Loses £190 Million Appeal Over UK Value-Added Tax Relief

Ride-hailing company Bolt is ineligible to use a value-added tax relief scheme for its on-demand cab services, the UK Court of Appeal ruled Friday.

The Tour Operators’ Margin Scheme, or TOMS, doesn’t apply to Bolt’s on-demand minicab services as the services aren’t comparable to services provided by travel agents and tour operators, the court said in a unanimous judgment, overturning decisions made by lower tribunals.

Bolt’s appeal involved an estimated £190 million ($254 million), while similar cases over £1 billion were awaiting an outcome, according to the court.

The First-tier Tribunal last year stayed a challenge from Uber ...