Aug 10, 2023
Period pants should not be subject to 20% VAT, say firms
Two major retailers of period pants are calling for them to be VAT-free in line with other sanitary products. Currently period pants, which are absorbent, washable and reusable, are classified as garments and VAT is levied at 20%. But other period products such as pads, tampons and reusable menstrual cups have been exempt since 2021. Nearly 50 signatories have signed a letter asking the financial secretary to the Treasury, Victoria Atkins, to reclassify period pants as a period product. "The government made a brilliant start by removing VAT from disposable period products, but we need them to finish the job and level the playing field," said Victoria McKenzie-Gould, corporate affairs director at M&S. If the VAT is removed, M&S has pledged to pass the cost saving onto customers which would means a three-pack of period knickers that currently retail at £20 would cost £16. In response, a spokesperson from the Treasury said: "We are committed to making sanitary products affordable and available to all who need them. That is why we have delivered on our promise to scrap the tampon tax so that VAT is no longer charged on sanitary products, such as pads, tampons and reusable menstrual products such as menstrual cups."We have also rolled out free sanitary products in schools, colleges and hospitals to continue our fight to end period poverty once and for all," the spokesperson added.
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