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Tito Mboweni says goodbye to VAT on sanitary pads and tampons

Today, it was announced by Finance minister Tito Mboweni that as of April 2019, consumers will no longer pay Value-Added Tax on sanitary pads. This was added to the list that also includes white bread flour and cake flour.

It was announced in parliament today when he presented his medium-term budget policy statement, which outlines government spending priorities for the next three years.

“The revenue loss associated with zero-rating these items is estimated at R1.2 billion. However, zero-rating these products target low-income households and will help restore the dignity of our people,” Mboweni said.

This came after female MPs‚ academics‚ and civil society representatives called for the abolishment of VAT on sanitary towels. Their reasoning being that young girls from poor communities were missing school while on their period because they could not afford sanitary pads.

Research has shown that on average‚ a female spends at least R600 per year on sanitary products. Which not everyone has the means. But after today this will no longer be a problem!

Up and up!

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