USE THIS TOOL WHEN you have a UK commodity or service description and want its VAT rate category. Returns the rate (standard 20%, reduced 5%, zero 0%, exempt), effective date, and any relevant conditions or exceptions. IMPORTANT: Uses a static lookup table current as of 22 Nov 2023 (Autumn Statem...
Part of the UK Legal Research server.
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AI agents call hmrc_get_vat_rate to retrieve information from UK Legal Research without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions -- but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.
Even though hmrc_get_vat_rate only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.
Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"hmrc_get_vat_rate": {}
}
}See the full UK Legal Research policy for all 34 tools.
These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access hmrc_get_vat_rate gives an agent. Each links to the full case and the policy that stops it:
Other read tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: allow, with a rate cap to control cost.
USE THIS TOOL WHEN you have a UK commodity or service description and want its VAT rate category. Returns the rate (standard 20%, reduced 5%, zero 0%, exempt), effective date, and any relevant conditions or exceptions. IMPORTANT: Uses a static lookup table current as of 22 Nov 2023 (Autumn Statement). Rates may have changed in subsequent Budgets — for time-sensitive advice, verify against GOV.UK via hmrc_search_guidance.. It is categorised as a Read tool in the UK Legal Research MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the UK Legal Research MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for hmrc_get_vat_rate: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches UK Legal Research. Nothing to install.
hmrc_get_vat_rate is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the hmrc_get_vat_rate rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for hmrc_get_vat_rate. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
hmrc_get_vat_rate is provided by the UK Legal Research MCP server (pypi:uk-legal-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 34 UK Legal Research tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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