ABOLISHING VAT ON SCHOOL WEAR

Following the results of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) report into the cost of school uniforms, Britain’s best known school wear brand, Trutex, is launching a petition which challenges The Chancellor, Alistair Darling, to abolish VAT on all items of school uniform that carry a school badge, regardless of size. 

Trutex is calling for the reclassification of school wear, which could potentially see the removal of VAT on all school specific products, encompassing the full size spectrum from age three to size XXXL.

At present, within schools that cater exclusively for pupils under 14 years of age including primary and middle schools, zero-rating is applied on garments featuring a prominent badge or piping in school colours regardless of garment size.  However, within standard secondary schools (ages 11-16), school wear is subject to the normal rules for children’s clothes, whereby the full rate VAT (17.5 per cent) is applied to all garments above the standard size of a child aged 14 years. 

This results in financial penalties for parents whose children require larger sizes.  Trutex is petitioning for the zero-rate principal to be extended to include all badged garments, regardless of a child’s age or size within all schools.

Whilst Trutex accepts that unbadged school uniform in adult sizes can be used for other purposes, a plain white shirt for example, a garment featuring a school logo, crest or piping in school colours, can only be used for its intended purpose.

Commenting on the petition, Clare Rix, Trutex marketing director said: “For schools with pupils exclusively under the age of 14, VAT is not applied to their badged school uniform, irrespective of the size.  This suggests that the government accepts that these items can only be used for the one purpose, yet this exemption is not extended to the majority of senior schools with pupils up to the age of 16.  There is no logical reason for this to be the case and the abolishment of VAT should be on badged items within all schools

“If the government really is serious about reducing the cost of school uniform for parents, then this is an ideal opportunity for them to demonstrate their intension”.

“As a school wear supplier, we are keen to support a campaign that will potentially make school uniform more affordable for parents and will go someway to support schools that are keen to create a strong identity and sense of pride by badging / branding specific products.”

To sign Trutex’s petition, which runs until the end of July, log onto: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/VATSchoolUniform/#detail and simply enter name and address details.

Notes:

Trutex

Trutex remains dedicated to its audience and continues to pioneer developments in the markets.  With a commitment to producing comfortable, premium quality, well-designed clothing coupled with Trutex’s unique ability to keep in touch with the needs of its customers, the company has led the way for over 130 years. For further information on Trutex visit www.trutex.com

HM Revenue & Customs

HM Revenue & Customs state that garments designed for young children must fit within the physical measurement or equate to the average body size of a child up to the eve of their 14th birthday.  Consequently, VAT relief is only applicable on children’s clothing measuring below 104cm / 41” chest for boys shirts and knitwear, 105cm / 41.5” chest for girls blouses and knitwear, 72cm / 28.5” waist for boys trouser or 71cm / 28” waist for girls trousers and skirts.

For further information on VAT on young children’s clothing visit