UK taxpayers second-highest contributors of VAT to EU budget
Only France contributes greater amount of VAT to EU budget, lobby group Business for Britain finds
Only France contributes greater amount of VAT to EU budget, lobby group Business for Britain finds
CLOSE TO A FIFTH of VAT contributions to the EU budget are generated by UK taxpayers, according to research by lobby group Business for Britain.
The body, which campaigns for a “fairer” deal for the UK from Europe, calculated that between 2007 and 2013, 17.7% of EU-wide VAT contributions came from the UK, equating to £246 per person and £78 more than the EU average.
Heavily-taxed France was the only country to pay more VAT to the EU, putting in 18.3%.
The group also highlighted that the European Commission has called for greater use of the standard rate of VAT and a EU rate of VAT. They estimate the removal of the zero- and reduced-rate of VAT would cost UK households up to £1,697 per year.
Business for Britain chief executive Matthew Elliott said: “Many people simply don’t realise every time they pay VAT some of that money goes straight to Brussels.”
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