The UK government removed VAT from period underwear, as of 1 January 2024.
The pants had been classified as garments rather than a period product, so were subject to the 20% VAT.
Both Marks & Spencer and WUKA backed the “Say Pants To the Tax” campaign last year, along with charities, politicians and business leaders. They revealed that together they paid more than £3 million in VAT on period pants, money they said that should have stayed in their customers’ pockets!
As a reusable product period pants are deemed to be much greener too, and can save 200 single-use plastic disposables from going to landfill.
Other period products such as tampons and pads have been exempted since 2021.
