That Zero VAT children shoes need to catch up with the size of kids feet

[Hopeforever]

Hooping that venting my frustration on here will save me venting in front of my DD as we struggle to find shoes that fit her, are age appropriate and VAT free

She is 10, the height of a 13 year old, 4 out of the 12 girls in her class are the same height as her.

But it's the shoes that really get me, she is size 6 1/2. Not suprising when mine are size 8 and I was that size by the time I was 13 over 30 years ago. So it's not a new thing even!

Yesterday I tried to find her some basic trainers. Most sports shops stopped at size 5. Clarks had just one style for her to chose, thankfully they fit.

Returning home I've looked at Clarks girls shoes web site and the only options on there for her are basic black school shoes (thankfully they go beyond her size) and one pair of trainers. Nothing else.

AIBU to think that as childrens feet sizes have grown over the last few decades, that the VAT rules should keep up?

On a positive note, the ladies in Clarks were lovely, an elderly lady was trying in kids trainers and they were so lovely to her, really thoughtful and caring.

[Katiegr17]

So annoying. My daughter is 10 and has size 7 feet. She had a pair of Nike Air Force one for her school shoes (£55 for Junior - they go up to size 6 - they are good value for money as they last and she plays football in them). Now she is 7 she has to have adult ones, which are £90! There should be a loophole in this when children have bigger than average feet. Adults with small feet are quids in!!!! And no it wouldn’t be better to get cheaper ladies shoes as they wouldn’t be robust enough or last as long! She had handed her old ones to her 16 year old sister - ironic - she’s only size 4.5.

[MrsStrowman]

There are lots of VAT exempt shoes that don't seem to fit the 'designed for children' criteria. My SIL is a size 3-4 (she's 5ft) she has cheap Hunter wellies, UGG boots, various trainers all VAT free all look like adult products. I'm 5'8 and a size 7, tall doesn't always mean big feet though, DH is 6'4 and a size 8 🤷, so it's likely. DS will be tall but who knows if he'll have giant feet or not. An ID system would need regulating, it would also mean you can't buy shoes without the child present or online, so not workable. I think there are few young children bigger than a size five and the exemption is meant for young children not all children

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

Surely, using sizes is a red herring. The whole idea of VAT is that it (supposedly) is a tax on people who wish to buy luxury/non-essential items. Nobody - child or adult - routinely walking about outside without shoes would not attract attention and concern from other people. Try sending your kids to school without shoes (actually don't!) and see if the teachers don't raise their concerns and/or report you to SS.

Therefore, as basic but practical and supportive shoes are NOT a luxury for anybody, nobody should have to pay VAT on them.

Footwear above a certain bracket/cost level - where much of the price is paying for an exclusive brand name rather than for the materials and workmanship - ARE luxuries and would therefore be subject to VAT, regardless of the age and size of the person wearing them.

[Ryderryder]

Same with school uniform. Dd developed early and I had to spend silly money on her school blazer.

[Piratefairy78]

I feel your pain. My DS is 12, his last pair of school shoes were a size 10 and football boots (why are they so different!!!) were a size 12!! School shoes cost £90 as we could only get men’s dress shoes. I swear he’s going to bankrupt me as he’s nearly 6ft too.

[LaDaronne]

I wear a size 3. I'm perfectly average height and weight, just tiny feet for some reason.

[CherryPavlova]

We had two with banana feet and one midget with size two who, as an adult, still gets the advantage of children’s shoes.
You can claim back,the VAT but it’s a long, time consuming process.

You do know the Russell and Bromley and Clarks well fitting shoes is an advertising myth, right? A barely trained teenager feels your children’s feet and says yay or nay. Any half competent parent can do that. Then these ‘perfectly fitting’ shoes are worn for about a week until the leather has stretched or two weeks and their feet have grown and the fit is no longer perfect.

Then these shops created to save our children’s feet from bunions orbworse sell ballet pump type shoes for school - damaging to feet as they need curled up toes to grip them on or they flop around with no support at all.

[hungryhippo90]

I feel your pain, my ten year old has just reached 5”6 and a size 7 shoe. Been buying her adults shoes for years now.
I’m less miffed at the price, but the lack of appropriate choice much of the time, and I’m worried if she continues to grow, exactly what I will find, and what the price will be then.

[Bloodyfucksake]

Yes, I also have DS1 who is 9 and wears UK adult 8 (Maybe even 9 now...)

Doesn't seem fair.

[tor8181]

you lot want to live in our house massive feet all round here

we only buy shoes in sports direct online sales as me and oldest cant buy in shops(most stop at a 11 here)

ive a 8 y old whos a adult 5 (boy)
a 14 y old whos a mans 12 (nearly a 13) (boy)
oh is a mans 8(the only normal size)
me (a 37 y old woman)a mans 12 and have been since i was 11

me and oldest has no choice but to wear trainers

since the age of 9/10 ive been in mens trainers as this age i was a 8 or 9

we are all tall as well

8 y old 5ft(mens xs or s clothes)
14 y old 6ft(m-l)
oh 5ft 7
me 5ft 10(35 leg so struggle for leg length as well)

its a good thing they dont go to school(home educated)as there is no way i would get uniform or school shoes to fit

[Meanderer]

...and yes I came here cos having the same issue - 13yo with size 7.5 feet...

[Meanderer]

Ducking fell! Just read that parliamentary debate! 😱🤬

[merrymouse]

Checked guidelines. If it can be shown that shoe is designed exclusively for under 14's then hmrc may agree to zero rate. Therefore Clarks could design size 6 shoes for children and zero rate them. Unfortunately there might be design issues - suspect a shoe that would fit the guidelines would not be that popular with 'Tweens'.

On the other hand, weirdly, girls clothes can go up to 28 inch waist and still be zero rated.

[Want2bSupermum]

Here in NJ, USA they have a sales tax (VAT) free week in August when all the parents go out and stock up on school supplies such as backpacks, lunchboxes and stationary.

Shoes and clothes are exempt from sales tax if they cost less than $200. I think this is a great idea. Shoes and clothes are a necessity for adults and children. The limit of $200 is reasonable. If you can afford to spend more than this on an item of clothing you can afford the sales tax.

[Lora1982]

Tesco go upto size 8!

[sashh]

Maybe you should be able to claim it back like you can for items necessary for a disabled person's use.

So I can claim back the VAT on a walking stick because I need to use one, but if I was just buying it as a fashion accessory I can't.

I'm a size 5 and the shoes I wear day to day are boys school shoes or DMs - both bought without the VAT.

[defineme]

I'm 38 with size 8 feet and it was always crap-some shops still don't do size 42. I have friends with size 8 and 7 feet and we're not freaks, just generally over 5ft9.
Ds1 is 10, 5ft1 and in size 7 G -one pair of clarks trainers available (which were cheap) and school shoes (which were not).
Ds2 is 8 and a size 3 E width so he had the one pair of clarks school shoes in that size.
Dd1 is 8 and size 1 but an H width so she had the one pair of school shoes in that size.

Oh for children with bog standard F width feet that I could nip into next or somewhere and get a cheap pair of shoes.

[dayshiftdoris]

Doctrine

When it comes to flat boots, trainers and sandals then yes a lot of the time she buys from the children ranges.

She also buys a lot of children's clothes - Age 13-14 in jeans fit her and hoodies, cardigans, etc
(Though to be fair age 13-14 hoodies fit me too)

We are a small / petite family... apart from my giant son who is already nearly taller than me!!

[5madthings]

My parents always insisted on well fitting shoes, I hated that as a teen,m but now I am grateful!

[Hopeforever]

Well said 5madthings

I want my DD to have decent healthy feet when she is older. I'm do thankful my mum looked after my feet. I'll give her credit for her diligence there

[TheDoctrineOfSciAndNatureClub]

Does she buy shoes from a children's range, then? Cos I'm pretty sure an adult range that goes down to a 3 attracts VAT all the way down.

[dayshiftdoris]

My son is 8 and is a size 5...

I wish I could get him 'cheaper' shoes but he has a wide fit AND a high instep... last time he needed trainers we tried a dozen pairs in Sports Direct and he couldnt even get his foot in even one pair... even the size up.
Couple that with a sensory issue relating to how shoes 'feel' due to ASD... well more than once I have wondered if shoes are really necessary

So we go to Clarks... I hate Clarks shoes but I have no choice though I has become absolutely excellent at spotting a random wider style in supermarkets... his current trainers are Asda £13 ones but this happens very rarely.

And soon we will pay VAT too... DEEP JOY... I do not feel it's fair that I will pay VAT on his shoes for my 9yr old when my 42yr old sister (who is a size 3) does not pay VAT on her shoes!!

[quoteunquote]

dd age 9, has size 5
ds age 11, has size 9
ds had size 13, at age 13,

we are a tall family,

I spend a small fortune on shoes, and end up paying vat before they are even in the last year of primary school, as did both DH and my parents, tall people pay more.

my friend who has size 3 feet and he DH has size 5, all of her children have tiny feet, very small family,

the only way to make it fair is put VAT on all shoes except baby shoes, and find another way to get money back in parents pockets.

[Karoleann]

My 6 year old wears size 4, galling isn't it.

I think at least school type shoes should be vat exempt

[5madthings]

Because fredgeorge i want my children to have well fitting shoes with natural materials that let their feet breathe and because they have wide feet with a high instep and cheap shoes simply dont fit. Even getting european ones like ricosta or geox we dont get much choice.