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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

VAT on sanitary items

66 replies

nailak · 07/10/2011 19:29

I have vaguely heard a debate about this, can someone explain this issue to me please?

i would like to know what the equivalent is that caters for men, and they dont have to pay VAT,

sorry if i sound clueless, it is because i am. but i want to learn

OP posts:

SardineQueen · 08/10/2011 07:48

That makes no sense though. If there is a cap on how many things can be rated what, and has to be in line with other countries, then whether it's a luxury is neither here nor there. The answer why something is rated as a certain thing is "because it is".

scaevola · 08/10/2011 08:27

I thought I'd linked this before - link to the EU on VAT.

It is not a "luxury" tax. I vaguely recall that such rhetoric was used back at the time of introduction in 1973. But it is simply not the case now - it's a general tax on consumption.

HecateGoddessOfTheNight · 08/10/2011 08:32

It's guaranteed revenue.

I promise you that's how they think. If it's not, I'll eat my hat!

We should all switch over to mooncups or reusable san pro. That'd hit 'em. I wonder how much ££ they'd lose?

scaevola · 08/10/2011 08:50

Not much - I could only find figures from 2006, but the sanpro market was then estimated at £310 m per year. So £15.5m VAT.

I didn't find the 2006 VAT figures for comparison, but for 2008, total VAT in UK raised £83.8 billion.

SardineQueen · 08/10/2011 09:06

scaevola why do they exclude it on things like childrens clothes then?

scaevola · 08/10/2011 09:12

Pass!

scaevola · 08/10/2011 09:14

Sorry - bit dismissive, but clothes are just as essential for adults and they are VATable. There's "no tax on learning", so nothing on books. Some foods are in, some are out.

I really don't know the history of exemptions.

SardineQueen · 08/10/2011 09:27

Hmmmm.

I see!

said · 08/10/2011 10:52

Children need clothes more regularly than adults. it's a concession. Children's clothes are zero-rated not exempt - there's a difference

Trills · 08/10/2011 11:14

There is VAT on ebooks though, even though none on paper books.

higgle · 08/10/2011 18:12

I remember protesting about this when I was a student over 30 years ago, they didn't listen then so I don't suppose there is any hope now!

Himalaya · 09/10/2011 01:53

My understanding is that VAT is by nature a regressive tax - because poorer people consume more of their income and are therefore hit harder.

The 0% and 5% rates were therefore brought in to address this by reducing VAT on the items which poorer people spend a greater proportion of their income on - food, utility bills, children's clothes and shoes. Other things have been given reduced rates - books, safety equipment, child car seats, energy efficiency products, condoms etc... because the government wants to encourage people to use them.

Sanpro doesn't fall into either category - the government doesn't care if you use it or what you use, and VAT on sanpro is not a major financial hardship, as most people spend say £5/ month on it. So I guess it was not seen as worth the administrative hassle to cut it. Lots of essential stuff e.g soap, washing up liquid, toilet paper, bedding, curtains is vatable.

Cutting it down to 5% I guess was a symbolic victory, but I'm not quite sure what the point was.

garlicScaresVampires · 09/10/2011 02:13

Me too, higgle. They did listen a bit, though - well, 75%, which is quite a bit of listening, considering we're women with those "stridently" inaudible voices Sanpro was taxed at full rate back then.

Can somebody get it zero-rated QUICKLY, please, while I'm still using it? Menopause brings flooding, for those who are still blissfully unaware of the joys to come! £5 a month?? Hollow laughter! And the incontinence stuff to look forward to ...

PureBloodMuggle · 09/10/2011 03:46

iit's 0% over here (rep of ireland)

vat makes my head hurt. But i do know lots of useless facts

Choc chip is lower than choc covered biscuit.

IHaveYourToaster · 09/10/2011 04:25

Gosh this really pisses me off. Sanpro is an essential. There is no reasonable alternative. Rags in gussets? Carrying bloody carrier bags of sodden rags back and forth from work?

Imagine if every menstruating woman took 5 days off work once a month because dealing with a period without using "non-essential" sanpro affected her ability to work?

There's no reason why it shouldn't be exempt. Loo paper is, other essential items are. This is a blantant tax on women

Himalaya · 09/10/2011 08:51

Ihaveyourtoaster - as far as I know you pay standard rate VAT in loo paper, and on soap, and on razor blades and shaving foam for that matter. Also specs and contact lenses (although not on tg opticians service itself).

It is not a Puritan tax on luxuries - it is a tax on everything, with some things exempt because they are taxed in other ways, and some things zero or reduced rated because they are a large part of the cost of living for people on low incomes (e.g.: food, fuel).

Paying tax is not a bad thing, or a punishment, it is the cost of having government services.

I think this is a bit of a red herring to be honest.

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