Over a dozen Tory MPs have joined requires Jeremy Hunt to scrap the “school uniform tax” and help cash-strapped households.
In a letter to the Chancellor as we speak 35 MPs, together with 13 Conservatives, urge him to abolish VAT on faculty uniforms on the Budget. While the clothes for younger children doesn’t entice the tax, the total 20% commonplace charge of VAT is charged on clothes and sneakers for kids aged 14 and over.
Campaigners have lengthy argued the tax unfairly impacts struggling households, together with these with children who’re taller than common. According to the Schoolwear Association, the common value of obligatory secondary faculty uniform stood at round £96 in England final yr. While this was barely down on the earlier yr, the letter to Mr Hunt urges him to go additional on the Budget.
The letter says: “We wholeheartedly believe that removing VAT on school uniforms is a sensible and compassionate policy that aligns with the Government’s commitment to raising education standards and alleviating financial pressures on families through removing excessive and disproportionate taxation. I urge you to consider this proposal seriously for the Spring Budget.”
Labour MP Rachael Maskell added: “A school uniform is not an optional item. It is therefore vital that parents do not pay VAT, not least at a time when so many parents are struggling to get by”.
The Tory MP Andrew Lewer additionally mentioned: “The Government will argue that the guidance on uniform it brought in last year has reduced costs, but a no-nonsense tax cut would help working families more. School uniform is an essential item and should be treated as such – scrapping VAT is both fair and necessary as for many, money is as tight as ever”.
Chair of the Schoolswear Association Matthew Eater mentioned he welcomed the Department for Education’s steering on faculty uniform prices. But he added: “With the current tax system unfairly penalising some families over others, there’s clearly more to be done if school uniform is to be the vital social leveller it should be. As an industry body, we are publicly committing to passing any savings from a VAT cut directly onto families, and will continue to work with schools to ensure their uniform policies are as proportionate and reasonable as possible.”
A government spokesman said: “We understand the challenges families face when purchasing school uniforms, which is why we are ensuring costs are kept reasonable through statutory guidance for schools and a zero-rate of VAT for clothing and footwear designed for young children less than 14 years of age. In England, some local authorities also provide discretionary grants to help with buying school uniforms.”