Tampon tax: 4 things to you need to know about why it might be axed and how much you could save

Tory ministers have confirmed today they will make efforts to scrap the 5 per cent VAT rate on tampons
Period pains: sanitary products cost the average woman 18k in her lifetime
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Liz Connor27 October 2015

‘That time of the month’ could be about to get a lot cheaper for women in Britain.

David Cameron faces the possibility of a Commons defeat over the controversial 'tampon tax' as 11 Tory ministers prepare to vote with Labour make efforts to end the VAT on sanitary items.

Here are four important things you should know about the tax:

It was recently opposed by 250,000 activists

The VAT rate on tampons was opposed by a 250,000-strong petition this week, with campaigners opposing the fact that sanitary products are classed as a 'luxury' taxable item.

The petition on the change.org was included the message: "We need to know why the Government still taxes sanitary products on luxurious grounds, but not helicopters, the maintenance of our private jets, or crocodile steaks."

The tax currently sits at 5 per cent

Labour reduced the VAT rate on tampons from 17.5 per cent to 5 per cent in 2000 after a campaign, but activists are calling for the VAT to be scrapped completely.

Essential goods such as food, drink and children's clothes currently have a zero rate of VAT.

Women could save up to £922 on sanitary products

Campaigners say the average woman will spend £18,450 on sanitary products over the course of a lifetime, of which £922 is tax.

Luxuries equivalent to the 18k women spend on periods in a lifetime

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The government has said that axing the tax would be difficult because it is enforced by the EU

Sanitary products are currently classified as "non-essential luxury items" by the EU for VAT purposes.

The Prime Minister's official spokeswoman said: "The Government sympathises with the issue here and understands the concerns that are being expressed."

But she continued to say that the VAT on sanitary products was set by EU law and the proposal in the motion would be difficult to achieve because it would require agreement across the 28 member states.

She said Britain's rate, 5 per cent, was the lowest in the EU and the lowest permissible under EU law. The current average is 17 per cent and the rate in Hungary is 27 per cent.

Now, however, Treasury minister David Gauke has confirmed the Tories will try and negotiate changes to the policy in Brussels.

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