Tampon Tax Abolished Across The UK

The ‘Tampon Tax’ has been abolished – with a zero rate of VAT applying to women’s sanitary products from January 1st onwards.

EU law required members to tax tampons and sanitary towels at 5%, treating period products as non-essential. With the UK now officially no longer apart of the union, the law has been scrapped in line with Rishi Sunak’s March Budget.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “I’m proud that we are today delivering on our promise to scrap the tampon tax. Sanitary products are essential so it’s right that we do not charge VAT.”

Felicia Willow, chief executive of women’s rights charity the Fawcett Society, agreed, saying: “It’s been a long road to reach this point, but at last the sexist tax that saw sanitary products classed as non-essential, luxury items can be consigned to the history books.”

The £15 million Tampon Tax Fund will continue to provide funding for projects supporting vulnerable women and girls.