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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand the issue with 'tampon tax'?

197 replies

QuackPorridgeBacon · 22/08/2017 18:29

Here me out. I will admit I don't understand it much and any insight would be great. I don't see an issue with a tax though.

I understand that things like razors and alcohol jellies (?) aren't taxed and I can see why that is annoying. We also don't choose to have periods so I get that argument too. Aren't they nasty to dispose of though? Wouldn't the tax just be paying those who are sorting through it all and disposing of it appropriately? Or am I being seriously thick?

I know I could go and do a google search and probably find answers but honestly, I'd rather ask on here as I'm lazy.

OP posts:
ChardonnaysPrettySister · 22/08/2017 19:57

Why on Earth would you get the thread deleted? On what grounds?

HotelEuphoria · 22/08/2017 20:00

Razors aren't taxed?????. Wtf! I had no idea, how can that be fair?

Cailleach666 · 22/08/2017 20:00

Washable pads are not for everyone. My career involved a lot of travel, often abroad, often for 4 or 5 days at a time. I shudder to think of lugging a great bloody bag of used pads through an airport to take home to wash.

GrampieRabbit · 22/08/2017 20:01

You don't think £600 tax is that much to pay just because you're a woman? On top of paying out for the bloody things in the first place?! Well, good for you OP - but some of us don't have that luxury. Some of us do have to be careful to do our sums correctly every month so we have enough for San pro. It's shit, and the tax is a further insult.

Belindabelle · 22/08/2017 20:01

There is talk of free sanitary protection being made avaliable in Scotland.

Booboobooboo84 · 22/08/2017 20:01

I don't think anyone has had a go at you OP we are just responding to what you've said. It's fine if you don't know about what the tampon tax meant, or why people feel passionately about it. But it is something feel passionate about so your going to get some passionate responses.

Maybe next time have a google rather than post on aibu this forum can be a bit hardcore

Mummyoflittledragon · 22/08/2017 20:03

I have ME/CFS and disabled. No way would I have the energy to use reusable pads. I use the limited energy I have to y'know try to look after my dd. Getting her to school and back is a struggle some days. I suppose that's better than everyday as it used to be. Ffs.

Theresnonamesleft · 22/08/2017 20:05

*arent prepared to deal with.

Good point about holidays/work trips. So we would charged even more because we wouldn't surely be able to take hand luggage coming back. Wouldn't the sniffer dogs also be affected?
And the more customs people that would have to go through bags 🤢

LesbianBadger · 22/08/2017 20:07

I'd pay the tax happily if it went to a scheme that provided sanitary protection for free for people who cannot afford it. It doesn't though.

It's the fact they are classed as a luxury that pisses me off. They are an essential not a luxury.

haba · 22/08/2017 20:07

Menstruation is a biological function, it isn't a luxury. I don't see why products to manage menstruation are not available on the NHS in the same way diabetes medicine or asthma medicine is. That way, people struggling with costs will get assistance.

Slimthistime · 22/08/2017 20:09

OP it's not a question of being well versed in anything
It's annoying because it simply requires a bit of thought and consideration to realise what the problem is.
That's why I find it depressing to hear from anyone.

Cailleach666 · 22/08/2017 20:10

haba- because menstruation is not an illness. Why should the NHS pay for it?

I think the problem of sanitary protection poverty needs some action, but not for the general population.

Otherwise why not supply free nappies for babies?

NuffSaidSam · 22/08/2017 20:11

Here it is in song form, maybe this will help.

ClashCityRocker · 22/08/2017 20:11

I can't get over excited about it - a saving of less than 10p on a £2 box. Assuming two boxes a month, it's 20p per month.

Assuming 35 years of periods that would be a total saving of £84 over 35 years.

I would much rather see other means of improving access to sanitary products and reducing period poverty - I think this is all a bit sound and fury and wouldn't be any improvement in real terms.

Belindabelle · 22/08/2017 20:13

A trial had started in Aberdeen giving free products to those on low income. The Scottish Gov is hoping to roll it out nationwide if the trial is deemed successful. Apparently first country in the world to tackle Period Poverty.

haba · 22/08/2017 20:14

theresnonamesleft I heard a v Interesting piece on R4 (either from our own correspondent or crossing continents) about a journalist that travels to Egypt regularly, and often has customs officials trying to work out what her tampons are as they're not commonly available in Egypt.

Dishevelled09 · 22/08/2017 20:14

This is part of why I log onto mumsnet, there's a huge demographic and varied opinions. It's a very emotive subject and the thread should stay. I'm lucky, I can use a mooncup and am relatively unaffected by blood loss, however I have friends who spend a fortune each month, lose days and can't use one. Young girls may find it impossible to use a mooncup and it's hard enough that they have the changes without adding to the burden plus maybe embarrassed with reusables. There shouldn't be a tampon tax but what can be done, that's what I would like the answer to.

Isabella70 · 22/08/2017 20:14

I agree that the tax should be reduced, but several myths are being peddled.

Firstly there is no longer tax on 'luxury' items and hasn't been for 40 years.

Men's razors attract the standard rate of VAT of 20%.

In fact the EU sets two tax rates, normal of 20% and reduced of 5%. Most EU countries tax sanitary products at the standard rate, the UK taxes at the reduced rate. Exceptions were granted for countries that taxed below that rate before the legislation was introduced (so for example Ireland taxes at 0%). There is also a common list of exemptions, most of which seem sensible but some of which are interpreted, in my mind, oddly by the member states - the lottery for example.

The reason for the nonzero lower rate is to prevent a 'race to the bottom' and discourage large scale cross-border shopping which could distort the market (and which the UK itself was a prime mover in supporting).

(Question to NI members - do you go to Ireland?)

All in all, whether or not you think it's right or wrong, the UK has played a full role in creating this system.

haba · 22/08/2017 20:16

cailleach but people that are on benefits do get nappies and formula for free for their babies! And a maternity allowance to buy buggy and basics ahead of birth.

Cailleach666 · 22/08/2017 20:18

but people that are on benefits do get nappies and formula for free for their babies! And a maternity allowance to buy buggy and basics ahead of birth.

Yes, and I am glad about that- but it isn't the NHS giving them out.

haba · 22/08/2017 20:21

Who issue milk vouchers? DWP perhaps? It was HVs giving out nappies, AFAIAA they're funded by the NHS.

lljkk · 22/08/2017 20:24

" 84 pads and around 60 Tampax a month"

omg, seriously. That isn't normal. I mean that in a nice way. It's something I'd try to get medical help to reduce.

I'm the other extreme, maximum 10 tampons a month required. Which works out as ~ £12 a year in tax (according to numbers online).

Youcanttaketheskyfromme · 22/08/2017 20:25

I was stopped at customs in Indonesia and had to explain what a tampon was to the (male) official. He was quite embarrassed when we realised ..

ClashCityRocker · 22/08/2017 20:25

We have vat on toilet paper. I'm pretty sure we would all agree that toilet paper is not a luxury item....

ModreB · 22/08/2017 20:26

I think that a lot of the people on this thread are to young to remember the time before tampons. I am old enough to remember.

We used to have linen belts, up to our waists that looped underneath our vagaina and anus, and wrapped around our waists. When we had a period, we would put wedges of old cloth, cotton, wool, linen, anything that would absorb the discharge. The belt and loop would be tied as tightly as you could, to reduce leakage, which, was inevitable. If you had a heavy period, you would have to change the pad about every 2 hours. As otherwise you would leak and stain the chair you were sitting on as well as the clothes you were wearing. And we all know how hard blood is to get out of clothes.

When you had a period, everyone knew, as you smelled. Of period blood. Which was a very distinctive odour. If you smelled at work, you were sent home with no pay.

Products like pads and tampons allowed women on a period to work as normal, so, in my opinion were essential rather than a taxable luxury. And should not be taxed. Ever.