The Toilet Roll Tax: UK’s Absurd VAT Rules and Their Impact on Society

• VAT rules in the UK are confusing and debated
• VAT brought in £168 billion to HMRC last year
• Some goods are charged at 20%, others at 5% or zero
• Items like biscuits, crisps, nuts, wigs, and bras have varying VAT rates
• VAT exemptions are based on fairness, but some items like toilet paper are charged at 20%
• Campaigns to end the “roll tax” may not benefit consumers
• Britain has more VAT reliefs than other OECD countries, worth around £70 billion annually

Source: theweek.com

Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.