Big Win for UK Women: VAT Axed on Period Pants from Today!
Starting 1st January 2024, women across the UK will enjoy big savings as the government scraps VAT on period pants. Thanks to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement 2023, prices could drop by up to £2 — that’s a hefty 16% cut on average.
Ending the Period Pants Tax After Years of Pressure
This latest move follows the scrapping of the tampon tax back in January 2021. It came after a wave of lobbying from around 80 MPs, charities, and retailers who pushed hard for change last August.
Top retailers like Marks & Spencer, Primark, and 1 have pledged to hand these VAT savings directly to shoppers, backing the government’s promise.
Financial Secretary Backs the Move
Nigel Huddleston, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, hailed the decision as a game-changer for period underwear and the environment. He said, “Period pants have become a mainstream option and deserve the same fair tax treatment as other period products.”
Goodbye EU Rules, Hello Fair Taxation
Leaving the EU has freed the UK to ditch outdated VAT rules which taxed sanitary products at varying rates from 1973 to 2021.
The ‘Say Pants to the Tax’ campaign, led by Marks & Spencer with strong support from women’s groups and environmentalists, was key to this victory. The change not only makes period pants more affordable but also helps women with sensory issues who struggle with traditional period products.
Tackling Period Poverty and Stigma
The savings depend on retailers passing on the full 20% VAT cut, and many have promised they will. Removing tax on period underwear is expected to ease period poverty and chip away at the stigma around menstruation.
“This is a huge step forward in fighting period poverty and breaking down stigma,” said Laura Coryton, sex education campaigner and founder of Sex Ed Matters. “We hope this encourages retailers to drop prices on all period products, giving women across the UK a real boost.”
