School uniform rip off, found e-petition for removal of VAT wouldn't that be great!

[maggiepy]

Just found this and thought it may be of interest and worth sharing around. Here's hoping that plenty will sign and share....

Ooops in my eagerness forgot the link:

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/52630

here you are folks!

Is there VAT on uniforms? I thought kids clothes were exempt?

No I will not sign for the reasons listed here
www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/vclothingmanual/VCLOTHING6100.htm
www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/vclothingmanual/VCLOTHING6150.htm

Thanks Talkinpeace interesting and you clearly know your hmrc stuff, but what a load of twaddle that all is. What adults would choose to wear items with specific school logos on for god's sake? This is exactly the sort of outdated 'advice' that needs to be discussed and reviewed. God help us we are all drowning in such bureaucracy -hope someone will start an e-petition to challenge this manual!

Wording from petition

Abolish VAT on Badged School Uniform.

Responsible department: Her Majesty's Treasury

School uniform designed for those aged 14 and over is levied with the full 20% VAT even though it is compulsory for under 16s. This makes a difference of roughly £3 on every school jumper purchased or around £8 if your child wears a blazer.
Whilst it can be argued that adults may buy the plain black trousers for work purposes there can be no such arguments made for badged or embroidered secondary school clothing.
One fifth of all the money you have spent on your 14 year olds school uniform is VAT.
VAT is for non essential goods. Badged or embroidered school uniform has no other use than its compulsory one so surely VAT should not be applied to it