Posted 3 Weeks Ago by fords (vegetarians DON'T eat fish!)
I noticed something today when checking my electricity bill - apparently I have to pay VAT. Now, as electricity is classed as an essential why the hell do I have to pay VAT on it? Phones are no longer classed as luxury items either and yet I still pay VAT on that too. Am I missing something here?
|
 
|  | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by toybox - my glass has shattered like a burst of laughter
Aren't there two levels of VAT? In France it's 19.6% for luxury items and something like 5% for non-luxury items (which since recently include the catering business).
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by Reddyfreddy
In the UK it's 5% for energy. The standard rate is 17.5% (currently reduced to 15% until 31 December 2009).
RF
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by swl
Isn't there a climate tax on your bill too? On the basis that paying the govt more money will somehow feed polar bears or something?
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by Icy North
Sex at noon taxes?
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by 2legs- Sybarite... in far too many ways...
Struth there's a climax tax? I best go into excile I must owe a fortune 
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by swl
I must be due a rebate.
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by fords (vegetarians DON'T eat fish!)
So why is there a 5% tax? Is this a climate (dammit I almost typed climax) tax? I'm with a company that promotes sustainable energy and I'm on a special economy tariff cos I have ground source heating, so my eco credentials are better than most :-S
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by Reddyfreddy
VAT on fuel was introduced by Norman Lamont in his 1993 budget at the rate of 8%. In their manifesto for the 1997 election, Labour promised to reduce it to 5%, "the lowest level allowed". This leads me to suspect that it was in fact a European regulation that forced the UK government to impose VAT on fuel in the first place.
It's a bit difficult to find information on this as it predates the mass internet era.
RF
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by Mina - Older on the outside, inside still 14
Can we get VAT off sanitary products first? Not often I decide to treat myself to a tampon, but people can and do live without leccy. 
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by Br. Robyn Hoode - Ginger and Spice and all things nice.
I *think* it's been removed from sanitary products, but feel free to double check and correct me on that!
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by Reddyfreddy
VAt is still charged on sanitary products at the reduced rate (5%). This document from 2001 outlines what does and doesn't qualify for the reduced rate: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/vwspmanual/VWSP2000.htm
As I suspected for the fuel VAT rate, this seems to be due to EU law. I'm not sure if the government has the power to remove VAT from sanitary products altogether.
RF
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by Kelli - 61/61 pre-t'Other weight reached. 28/28 to pre-t'Boy weight Yeeehaaaa! 1/21 to wedding weight
People can and do live without sanitary products too, or at least without the disposable sorts.
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by Br. Robyn Hoode - Ginger and Spice and all things nice.
Just because they can be done without doesn't make them a luxury, surely? If we dont pay VAT on cake, then we shouldn't pay it on sanitary products!
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by Kelli - 61/61 pre-t'Other weight reached. 28/28 to pre-t'Boy weight Yeeehaaaa! 1/21 to wedding weight
Oh I agree, I was just responding to Mina saying electricity was less of a necessity than tampons.
|
| | |
|
|
Posted 3 Weeks Ago by fords (vegetarians DON'T eat fish!)
Most shops rebelled against the VAT on sanitary products a good few years back by reducing the prices, thereby paying the VAT themselves (I think Boots was the leader in this one). As far as I know this is still the case.
|
| | |
|
|
|
|
Key |  |  |
A: An older reply to the parent Posting
B: The parent Posting, to which this is a reply
C: A newer reply to the parent posting
D: The first reply to this Posting
| | |
Click on this icon to make a complaint about a specific Posting | |
Home
Reply
