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AIBU?

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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:
Youcanttaketheskyfromme · 22/08/2017 20:26

I cannot imagine having to bring blood covered pads through customs either.

UnicornGlitterTheBaneOfMyLife · 22/08/2017 20:28

Ate condoms taxed?

ClashCityRocker · 22/08/2017 20:29

Condoms are five percent I believe, so the same as tampons.

Original poster
QuackPorridgeBacon · 22/08/2017 20:33

grampie I'm fucking skint all of the time my finances are crap I am broke and on benefits. I was under the impression the amount stated was not tax but the complete price.

OP posts:
WhollyFather · 22/08/2017 20:38

The tax on tampons is VAT at 5% and is an EU imposed tax, not a UK one, because the EU won't let us zero-rate them.

Jaffa cakes are not taxed because they are classed as biscuits, not because of any luxury / non-luxury status. Took a court hearing, mind.

Original poster
QuackPorridgeBacon · 22/08/2017 20:39

That's an awful amount to go through. Have you sought help? I mean there must be a reason to get through so many it can't be normal. I hope that something is able to be done as that sounds like torture. I have seven day periods and thought that was bad.

OP posts:
Original poster
QuackPorridgeBacon · 22/08/2017 20:40

Ahh so they aren't taxed for being a luxury item and are taxed the lesser amount. So why is there so many myths floating about and getting people extremely angry over them?

OP posts:
lunar1 · 22/08/2017 20:43

Every woman should be able to manage their period however they want without it being considered a luxury.

People can seriously piss off with their reusable methods. While they may work for some, they don't for everyone. Seriously, working a 14 hour shift and out of the house for 16 hours a day, while on a horrendously heavy period and hardly any time to pee never mind wash/store reusables every sodding hour.

It is not a luxury to want something quick, clean and efficient.

Theresnonamesleft · 22/08/2017 20:47

Yes I have sought help, hence I also have a prescription cost of £17.80 a month. Double slap in my face for something that is a luxury. None of my meds comes under the exemption but from this month, I have signed for the pre-paid thing.

Modre, I was just starting then when the belts were being phased out. Lilywhites, or Drwhites, remember it was something white.

Original poster
QuackPorridgeBacon · 22/08/2017 20:47

I don't personally think they are a luxury I was trying to think of why they would be classed under a luxury tax. As it turns out they aren't so it's not a conversation that is actually needed.

I don't work and never really too far from home I still wouldn't use washable ones (and I have in the past) I just don't want the effort of cleaning them and I would get through so many.

OP posts:
Original poster
QuackPorridgeBacon · 22/08/2017 20:49

I was going to suggest the pre-paid idea I've heard it works out a lot cheaper. I'm sorry that you go through something so awful every month. Does the medication help at all? I couldn't imagine having such a bad period. Apologise for noseyness and you do not need to answer anything.

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Toadinthehole · 22/08/2017 20:57

I understand that EU regulations provide that items subject to sales tax must be taxed at a particular minimum rate. So the Irish simply made a law stating that sanitary items weren't subject to sales tax. Presumably the UK could do this too.

Mind you, the legality of what the Irish did is perhaps questionable considering the hot water they're in with the European Commission over their (non) taxing of Apple.

Justanotherlurker · 22/08/2017 21:15

Mind you, the legality of what the Irish did is perhaps questionable considering the hot water they're in with the European Commission over their (non) taxing of Apple.

Have you any proof of this, I know member states have said it will allow the reduction in tax but nothing has yet been rattified, I know Greece upped the tampon tax to 22% to comply with the EU austerity measures but I cannot find anything that Ireland has abolished it.

Could be they are playing fast and loose, like Apple etc

RebelRogue · 22/08/2017 21:20

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/girls-skipping-school-periods-cant-afford-tampons-sanitary-pads-a7629766.html%3famp

Just one small school in one area.
Sanitary products are not essential,they are a luxury...suuuure. Hmm

Cailleach666 · 22/08/2017 21:21

ModreB

Absolutely. I remember these awful sanitary belts too.
Disposables and the availability of tampons were a revolution to women. Many women would avoid going out or doing activities so great was the fear of leakage, with many simply staying at home during the heaviest days.

I hate to see them being vilified - many critics clearly were not around when sanitary products were so inadequate.

Women have been using disposable tampons since ancient Egyptian times.

Sallystyle · 22/08/2017 21:51

They are a luxury though right? (Tampons anyway)

I could just wear pads but with heavy periods like mine I detest the feeling of sitting in my own blood and feeling it come out as heavy as it does. They don't offer me enough protection on their own. I have to wear both as I can leak through a tampon without warning. I can leak through a pad extremely quickly as well. So no, tampons are not a luxury. For some, we need both.

Sallystyle · 22/08/2017 22:02

Nappies for those on benefits? Is that a new thing. That wasn't the case when mine were babies. My youngest is 8.

Original poster
QuackPorridgeBacon · 22/08/2017 22:24

I've never heard of nappies for those on benefits. Surely the child benefit would cover that at the very least.

I realise now the way I explained was shit, I don't think they are a luxury I was trying to think of why they would have a 'luxury' tax but they don't.

OP posts:
RebelRogue · 22/08/2017 23:02

They are a luxury though right? (Tampons anyway)

They are a luxury in the sense they aren't needed

honey well in the grand scheme of things they would be a luxury, surely. They are disposable and wasteful and there are plenty of non-disposable alternatives that anyone can use so on that basis they would be a luxury right?

Actually you did say several times why you think they are a luxury,they are not needed.

Fuck young girls that are poor and have to attend swimming lessons.
Fuck women who have heavy periods.
Fuck women who work long,busy shifts and don't have the time to pee much less change pads whenever.
Fuck women who are too poor to feed themselves or their kids and for whatever reason use tampons.
Tampons are not needed ,they're a luxury.

That is despite ALL sanitary products being taxed.
Forget India,Africa etc, girls in UK miss out on education because they can't afford sanitary products. Hell there was a lady on here desperate because she was skint and had none. A luxury indeed.

Original poster
QuackPorridgeBacon · 22/08/2017 23:13

I don't think you understood my post to be honest but yes, let's make me out to be a woman hater..

OP posts:
Lurkedforever1 · 22/08/2017 23:37

Yes I can really see the teen girl I supply with towels every month just washing out reusables in her home. I just buy her towels because she likes luxury. Not essential or anything. Same for women in hostels, they can just handwash them in a communal bathroom. Or maybe depo could be mandatory for anyone who can't or won't opt for reusables.

Besides, those of us who could practically use them have the right not to. Kids shoes were a luxury not too long ago and I don't ever hear suggestions we should tax them because they are still optional.

haba · 22/08/2017 23:39

U2- maybe it was just our area (pretty poor)? The hvs gave out nappies to people at baby clinic. (11 and 8 years ago)

PetitFilous123 · 22/08/2017 23:40

I eat a lot of Jaffa cakes to offset my tampon tax

SweetLuck · 22/08/2017 23:45

I thought you were going to get the thread deleted and stop asking questions to learn? Confused

Original poster
QuackPorridgeBacon · 22/08/2017 23:59

I got asked not to. I don't like people implying things about me that aren't true. I forget people (only some) on here like to twist and pick at what you have said, to twist it even after an explanation and more detail on what was said is given.

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