VAT Club names 24 September as Tax Equality Day

It follows on from the success of the first Tax Parity Day which took place in 15,000 pubs and restaurants across the UK in September 2013.

Pubs and restaurants will once again be encouraged to support the campaign to reduce the level of VAT in the hospitality sector by lowering prices on food and drink by 7.5%.

Prices will be reduced for one day only, in order to show the benefits of a VAT cut to 5%.

At present all food and drink in pubs is subject to 20% VAT, compared to supermarkets which benefit from a zero VAT rate.

Reinforcing the message​

Jacques Borel said: “Tax Parity Day was an outstanding success and the perfect way to reinforce our message to the public that lower VAT in the hospitality sector will deliver lower prices and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. Although we have changed the name to Tax Equality Day, the message remains the same. Customers at pubs and restaurants across the UK supported last year’s event with enthusiasm and pride and I am confident that they will welcome the Tax Equality Day on September 24. The campaign to reduce VAT is well known amongst the public, policy makers and MPs and a national Tax Equality Day will highlight the support for the VAT cut campaign.

Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: “Each of our 900 plus pubs will participate in Tax Equality Day. Last year’s Tax Parity Day was an outstanding success in our pubs and our aim is to make September 24 our busiest trading day of 2014. The Jacques Borel VAT Club is doing an excellent job in highlighting the unfairness of VAT which pubs and restaurants and other hospitality operators have to pay, compared to that paid by supermarket operators.”