Germany: Luxury goods tax on tampons 19%, book tax 9%, book of tampons sells out (opens in new tab)

(theguardian.com)

4 pointsdchs6y ago4 comments

4 comments

19% is the regular value added tax in Germany. Almost everything is taxed at that rate. Luxury tax is a thing but not in Germany. There is no luxury tax in Germany. There are a very few exceptions for some goods that are taxed at a lower rate. These are by and large basic necessities, public transport and copyrighted works. Books are one example of the last category, but books also have a mandatory fixed book price [1], so their price is not determined by supply and demand.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_book_price

gshdg6y ago

I think the point is that feminine hygiene products are also a necessity and should be taxed as such.

weinzierl6y ago

That should be the point and it would be something hopefully most people would agree with. In reality the whole debate is about a presumed luxury tax applied to the disadvantage of women.

The most revealing thing about this debate is how no one seems to question the point about the luxury tax. It seems that most people here have no idea that they pay 19% on almost everything even if it is stated on every receipt.

belorn6y ago

I would back one step further and ask if hygiene products get considered a necessity.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

4 comments

weinzierl6y ago

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_book_price

gshdg6y ago

I think the point is that feminine hygiene products are also a necessity and should be taxed as such.

weinzierl6y ago

That should be the point and it would be something hopefully most people would agree with. In reality the whole debate is about a presumed luxury tax applied to the disadvantage of women.

belorn6y ago

I would back one step further and ask if hygiene products get considered a necessity.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse