German women are sick of paying. Period.
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No leakage here |
German startup company The Female Company has come up with a creative VAT avoidance scheme – hiding tampons inside books.
Tampons are classed as a luxury item under Germany tax law and thus incur 19% VAT while books are only taxed at 7%. It's yet to be seen if the authorities will look to cramp campaigners' style, or if they'll leave it to run to the end of the limitation period.
The first run of the 'book' sold out all 10,000 copies within one day.
Tax Relief applauds the creative protest. The rules are bloody unfair, and Germany isn't the first country to see discontent around the taxation of essential sanitary items. Modifications to the VAT Directive could allow countries to make changes.
Robbie robbed of honour
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Robbie wouldn’t be a sex icon either if he had to wear a shirt and tie to work |
Pop star Robbie Williams is reportedly the first person to be hit by the UK's new 'honour blacklist' and be denied an OBE for his charity work – due to his involvement in a tax avoidance scheme.
The chart-topper will be cursing his guardian Angels (and perhaps his accountant) for not keeping him out of the Ingenious film partnerships that have caught out plenty of high-profile names, including Baron Andrew Lloyd Webber. It seems the honour blacklist doesn't extend to the House of Lords…
Tax Relief is a big Robbie fan – so Let Me Entertain you with the lyrics I'll be singing in is honour at the ITR Christmas party karaoke:
I don't
You don't
We don't pay our taxes
If you still do I've got news for you
Your accountant might be past it!
Quotes of the month
"Thank you for laughing. Nobody laughs during working parties at the OECD."
A speaker at Europe Leading Women in Tax Forum.
"As a lawyer, I'm quite interested in what the law says"
Overheard on a reporter's phone call.
