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Original poster

To think the government should put VAT on cake

110 replies

72hoursinaande · 06/10/2024 18:14

its a luxury to eat cake and would probably put more back into the coffers.
Slightly tongue in cheek but I thought mumsnet could use a different VAT debate.

OP posts:
CallMeMammy · 06/10/2024 20:06

In Ireland we pay VAT on cake and a fun fact is that an Irish court ruled that Subway bread is to be classified as cake because it contains so much sugar.

Nogaxeh · 06/10/2024 20:05

FoxtrotOscarKindaDay · 06/10/2024 20:02

It's a quick bread, not cake.

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Oh. Well that's a relief.

Tax away on cakes then, if scones are safe.

FoxtrotOscarKindaDay · 06/10/2024 20:03

FifiFalafel · 06/10/2024 19:48

if the item starts hard and goes soft over time, it's a biscuit

Not always.

😂😂😂

Another cause of cake to tax ... Men.

nOasistickets · 06/10/2024 20:03

Esp cake in private school 😂😂😂

FoxtrotOscarKindaDay · 06/10/2024 20:02

Nogaxeh · 06/10/2024 19:48

Pretty sure a scone would be classed as a cake for VAT purposes.

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It's a quick bread, not cake.

Ursulla · 06/10/2024 19:54

Exactly!

As for food with high sugar content, you can't get much higher sugar content than a bag of sugar. Tax it!

FifiFalafel · 06/10/2024 19:51

If the government is going to be tough on cake should they not also be tough on the causes of cake?

Eggs used for scrambled egg on toast? Zero VAT.
Eggs used for knocking up a Vicky sponge? 20% all day long.

Ursulla · 06/10/2024 19:49

FifiFalafel · 06/10/2024 19:48

if the item starts hard and goes soft over time, it's a biscuit

Not always.

LOL 🤣

FifiFalafel · 06/10/2024 19:48

if the item starts hard and goes soft over time, it's a biscuit

Not always.

Nogaxeh · 06/10/2024 19:48

FoxtrotOscarKindaDay · 06/10/2024 19:46

Scones

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Pretty sure a scone would be classed as a cake for VAT purposes.

LegoTherapy · 06/10/2024 19:47

I have the urge to make cake now. A Victoria sponge to go with a cup of tea.

FoxtrotOscarKindaDay · 06/10/2024 19:46

Nogaxeh · 06/10/2024 19:40

If you put VAT on cake what will people have with their tea?

Scones

taxguru · 06/10/2024 19:43

Realistically, though, no government would ever have the balls to put VAT on cake or other foods. Just look at the outrage when the coalition tried to impose VAT on Greggs pasties and sausage rolls!! They had to do a very rapid u-turn as the media crucified them!

taxguru · 06/10/2024 19:41

KimberleyClark · 06/10/2024 18:16

Would it apply to Jaffa cakes? Apparently the law is not clear on whether they are cakes or biscuits.

The law is VERY clear after a number of court cases on the subject.

Not particularly "legalese" but a rough and ready guide is that if the item starts hard and goes soft over time, it's a biscuit, VATable. But if it starts soft and goes hard over time, it's a cake, VAT zero rated.

Given cake is usually calorific and not necessary, I personally think it should be vatable, along with other unhealthy food items, such as most packets and tins which are filled with additives and preservatives. I'd only leave "raw" and unprocessed foods as zero rated to try to deal with the obesity epidemic and the ultimate inevitable collapse of the NHS if nothing is done.

Nogaxeh · 06/10/2024 19:40

If you put VAT on cake what will people have with their tea?

Wibblywobblybobbly · 06/10/2024 19:38

It's crazy to think that until three years ago we paid VAT on tampons but not cake.

Pandasnacks · 06/10/2024 19:37

30percent · 06/10/2024 19:35

I hate cake. Especially sponge cake. Tax that mf.

YOU ARE NOT UNREASONABLE

😲

30percent · 06/10/2024 19:35

I hate cake. Especially sponge cake. Tax that mf.

YOU ARE NOT UNREASONABLE

noblegiraffe · 06/10/2024 19:33

Colin the Caterpillar. Tax that smug bastard.

If people are willing to pay 10 quid for a Colin, they'll be able to stretch to £12.

We can use the money raised to pay for 40 new hospitals.

FrippEnos · 06/10/2024 19:28

cake is known to be bad.

CorbyTrouserPress · 06/10/2024 19:25

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 06/10/2024 19:22

M&S dark chocolate Jaffa Cakes are very moreish!

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I’ll give them a try!

I tried the new McVities cola bottle flavour ones recently, all kinds of wrong!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 06/10/2024 19:22

CorbyTrouserPress · 06/10/2024 18:22

The new flavours of Jaffa cakes are horrible.

M&S dark chocolate Jaffa Cakes are very moreish!

Ursulla · 06/10/2024 19:08

Jesus Christ OP behave. People have been beheaded for less.

shellyleppard · 06/10/2024 19:04

Don't make one of lifes pleasures more expensive!!!

Paisleydad · 06/10/2024 19:03

No. Not cake, VAT on avocados instead of public school fees. Hits the same demographic.

And then I don't have to go out and stockpile cake.

(BTW, I've been called out on tongue in cheek posts before, so would like to make it clear that this is tongue in cheek).

(Except for the bit about VAT on avocados. Nasty slimey things).