To think the government should put VAT on cake

[72hoursinaande]

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.

Don't be chuffing ridiculous. Life is tough enough as it is without VAT on cake.

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

Might be tongue in cheek, but why should a birthday cake suddenly be something a lower income struggles to buy for their children?

We should still be able to buy full sugar drinks.

Only when served in private schools.

Maybe cake could fund better state education

It's 2024 not 1944. Cake is not a luxury

VAT tribunal in 1991 found that they are cakes, so currently no VAT

Aren't there already plans to extend the "sugar tax" levied on soft drinks to chocolate and sweets?

The new flavours of Jaffa cakes are horrible.

Could be a good idea. Anything high fat or high sugar except the raw ingredients. So butter and sugar themselves would not be taxed. I'd add energy drinks and things with sweeteners although sweeteners might/would cause difficulties for diabetics. The taxes raised should subsidise fruit and vegetables.

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).

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

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

M&S dark chocolate Jaffa Cakes are very moreish!

I’ll give them a try!

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

cake is known to be bad.

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.

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

YOU ARE NOT UNREASONABLE

😲

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

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

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.

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!

Scones

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