# zero vat

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/zero-vat/
- Published: 2018-08-26T17:58:31+02:00
- Author: dearSA

# The National Treasury has asked for your comment or suggestion on the report by the Independent Panel on the review of the current list of items that are zero-rated for VAT.

## The recently released report also recommends strengthening the National School Nutrition Programme and increasing the Child Support Grant and Old Age Pension.

### Should you be unsure, please read the live comments, summary, media or resource documents below the form.  _Closing date is 31 August 2018._

## **10867 **active citizens had a say

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## LIVE COMMENT FEED

Displaying newest 5 comments.

[CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE COMMENTS ](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/zero-vat/comment-feed/)

## SUMMARY

After VAT increased to 15%, concern about the impact on poor households led the 
Minister of Finance to appoint a panel of experts to evaluate the current list of
zero-VAT items and consider including extra items to lessen the impact of the VAT
increase on the poor.

The recently released report also recommended strengthening the National School 
Nutrition Programme and increasing the Child Support Grant and Old Age Pension.

The report recommended adding these items for zero-VAT rating:

 * Sanitary products
 * White bread, bread flour and cake flour
 * School uniforms
 * Nappies (including cloth and adult nappies)

The report suggests possible alternatives to VAT zero rating including:

 * Lower positive VAT rates on some items
 * Increases in all the monthly social grants, including the old age social pension
 * Food vouchers – where cash grants might not be feasible or practical
 * Upscaling the various feeding schemes (e.g. the National Schools Feeding Scheme,
   including pre-school (ECD))
 * The provision of free sanitary pads to girls and poor women.

## Consider the following;

 * Will the recommendations significantly benefit poor households, or could such
   benefit be achieved through other means, for example, through government expenditure
   programmes?
 * Have all significant aspects of the revised terms of reference dated 29 May 2018
   been explored in the report?
 * Are the panel’s recommendations consistent with other relevant government policy
   objectives (e.g. that the food items recommended for zero-rating are consistent
   with the Department of Health’s policy on nutrition)?
 * Are the recommendations consistent with the fiscal framework adopted by Parliament?

[CLICK TO VIEW CURRENT LIST OF ZERO-RATED ITEMS ](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/zero-vat/current-zero-rated-and-exempt-items/)

## MEDIA

 * [BusinessTech](https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/261829/these-9-items-could-be-included-on-the-new-zero-rated-vat-list/)
 * [Media statement](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/zero-vat/1379-2/) issued by National
   Treasury, 10 August

## DOWNLOAD DOCUMENTS

[Download the Expert Panel’s Report](http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/180806VAT_Panel_Final_Report_for_public_comment.pdf)
of Recommendations made to the Minister of Finance

[Download Treasury’s](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/20191402/180810Media_Statement_-_Release_of_VAT_Panel_report.pdf)
media statement

![zero-vat-items](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/20191401/
zero-vat-items.jpg "zero-vat-items")

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