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Tax on Healthy food
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I came across this and didn't even know there was a tax on so called "LUXURY FOOD"
100% fruit juice is taxed at 17.5% whilst chips aren't - well that says a lot about the government's attitude to healthy eating.
http://www.vatsnotfair.com/smoothies/
ASDA is launching a campaign calling for a reduction in VAT on 100% fruit juices and smoothies to bring an end to a tax which unfairly penalises people for choosing healthier options.
Under current tax law, people pay zero VAT on essential foods and drinks such as milkshakes, frozen pizzas and chips but 17.5% on luxury items such as smoothies and 100% fruit juices. ASDA is calling for this to be reduced to 5%, which is the minimum allowed under EU law.
Current VAT law makes no sense ? the Government charges the full rate of tax on healthy fruit juices and smoothies while effectively encouraging people to buy cakes and frozen pizzas by not taxing them at all.
This is about a common sense approach to pricing. Everyone knows that we should be eating more fruit and vegetables and that price often plays a big part in deciding which items to buy. So why should we pay a premium for making healthier choices?
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/juicesvat/
100% fruit juice is taxed at 17.5% whilst chips aren't - well that says a lot about the government's attitude to healthy eating.
http://www.vatsnotfair.com/smoothies/
ASDA is launching a campaign calling for a reduction in VAT on 100% fruit juices and smoothies to bring an end to a tax which unfairly penalises people for choosing healthier options.
Under current tax law, people pay zero VAT on essential foods and drinks such as milkshakes, frozen pizzas and chips but 17.5% on luxury items such as smoothies and 100% fruit juices. ASDA is calling for this to be reduced to 5%, which is the minimum allowed under EU law.
Current VAT law makes no sense ? the Government charges the full rate of tax on healthy fruit juices and smoothies while effectively encouraging people to buy cakes and frozen pizzas by not taxing them at all.
This is about a common sense approach to pricing. Everyone knows that we should be eating more fruit and vegetables and that price often plays a big part in deciding which items to buy. So why should we pay a premium for making healthier choices?
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/juicesvat/
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Comments
Same as razors, men need theirs but women dont, so they pay the higher rate.
It's rediculouse that healthy food is taxed whereas fatty foods aren't, the government can push 5 a day all they want but with the price of most fruit it's no wonder people aren't eating enough!
:yes: The VAT system on food is really odd. A lot of the basic rules where made quite a few years ago and dont get updated very often.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7284703.stm
That's just an example - Pineapple juice for example is probably a lot easier to consume then a pineapple. Also possible to drink a mixture of various fruits and get the benefits of several fruits.
Nope, both female razors and tampons are luxury items (according to the VAT man, not me).
Which is why I use mens razors. I don't need mine to be pink and sparkly thanks, I just need it to shave my legs.
I think tampons being classed as a luxury item is awful though :mad:
The pads arent considered a luxury, so they arent taxed, but tampons are.
I do think it's wrong that tampons are considered a luxury item though! There's nothing luxurious about periods.
But thats not the point, its that tampons are the luxurious way of dealing with them.
For someone with heavy periods they are the necessary way of dealing with them
In my shopping basket fruit and veg are essential (buy them every week) and frozen chips and pizzas are literally a luxury (as in I only buy them once everything else is in the basket and I've got money left over)
Urgh the government make me mad
I agree with that. I think the point is that they're healthy though. I'd consider them a luxury too. But I don't think fruit juice or tampons should be. I rarely buy fruit juice because its too expensive
ETA: the tax on tampons rule cos they're a 'luxury' was obviously written by a man
Of course I dont think tampons are the luxurious way to have a period, its a total farce that they are taxed.
As for smoothies, they are a luxury so should be taxed, just plain juice though that seems a bit harsh, perhaps they could have the 5% band.
As for fruit and veg itself, I assume that's VAT exempt, or at least its on the 5% band.
I know books and kids clothing is exempt which seems a good idea to me.
I agree with the rest of your post, tis good :thumb:
That should be the new ad campaign
"Tampax - the luxurious way to have your period"
I'm a little insulted, surely you didnt actually believe that I thought that? I'm not new! Hopefully you have made some rough value judgements about me which wouldnt tally with that?
That's fried gold and no mistake.
Better? or would you like a (luxury) lollipop too?