The reduced VAT rate of seven percent is supposed to relieve consumers. It therefore applies to many essentials such as staple food, but also for cultural offerings and cut flowers.
Significant displeasure arouses, above all, what he does not apply. In particular, on hygiene items such as tampons namely the regular rate of 19 percent VAT applies - although it is clearly not about luxury products. Therefore, the critics speak of a "tampon tax".
The Federal Council now apparently wants to address this issue, and that in September, as the "Saarbrücker Zeitung" reports. The Landkammer has received a petition from Thuringia requesting that the Federal Government "at the earliest possible date include hygiene products for women in the list of products with a reduced VAT rate," reports the newspaper. She quoted a spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Finance: "If there is a parliamentary majority for it, we will not close it."
According to the report, Thuringia calls for "a structural reorganization and review" of VAT rates. The goal should be "in particular a greater relief for families".