Taxation
Big Tobacco lobbies battle for smoke-free products taxation
As the EU sets its sights on harmonising taxation of the rising e-cigarette and heated tobacco products market, lobbyists fight to keep prices down and smokers hooked. The forthcoming negotiations are intertwined with the bitter competition between the two industry giants.
How VAT hinders effective redistribution of wealth
VAT is a regressive tax, putting more burden to the poor than to the rich. Indeed, VAT applies the same rate to everyone regardless of their level of wealth – but the richer you are, the lower the proportion of your revenue goes to consumption. VAT cancels out one-third of the effects of fiscal redistribution.
Half of the European countries levy the same VAT on sanitary towels and tampons as on tobacco, beer and wine
The Spanish government has announced its intention to reduce VAT on sanitary towels and tampons in the 2019 budget. Since 2007, European law allows a reduction to the so-called Tampon Tax, although countries such as Hungary, Switzerland and Denmark continue to apply a general rate on such products.
Taxation: a total failure
The European Union remains an area in which there is fierce tax competition between its member countries.