The Big Deal
1,000 signatures reached
To: Simon Roberts CEO of Boots, Stephen Clarke CEO of WH Smith & other airport retailers
End the airport "sunscreen scam"
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Stop the "sunscreen scam." Pass on the VAT saving to passengers rather than using an underhand method to reduce your tax bill.
Why is this important?
Passengers are being misled and left out of pocket while the biggest retailers in the country exploit a loophole to pay even less tax.
Every time one of us buys a £6 bottle of sunscreen at Boots we’re asked to show our boarding pass. Now we know that we’re not getting the £1 VAT, but neither does the Treasury. In fact airport retailers are reclaiming VAT we paid and POCKETING the money.
Many passengers think they’ve been misled by airport shop staff who told them presenting a boarding card was obligatory – and even required for security purposes.
It’s time to end the “sunscreen scam.”
As the busiest holiday weekend of the year approaches, the “sunscreen scam” could add up to millions of pounds for retailers like Boots, WH Smith and World Duty Free. But this is not the first time some of these retailers have been accused of dodging tax. In 2013 Boots was accused of using a legal loophole to avoid paying £1.1BILLION in tax.
The situation is so bad that even the minister in charge is angry with the shops. David Gauke MP told the Independent: “The VAT relief at airports is intended to reduce prices for travellers, not as a windfall gain for shops.”
Join the revolt against the the shameless “sunscreen scam” by signing this petition.
Every time one of us buys a £6 bottle of sunscreen at Boots we’re asked to show our boarding pass. Now we know that we’re not getting the £1 VAT, but neither does the Treasury. In fact airport retailers are reclaiming VAT we paid and POCKETING the money.
Many passengers think they’ve been misled by airport shop staff who told them presenting a boarding card was obligatory – and even required for security purposes.
It’s time to end the “sunscreen scam.”
As the busiest holiday weekend of the year approaches, the “sunscreen scam” could add up to millions of pounds for retailers like Boots, WH Smith and World Duty Free. But this is not the first time some of these retailers have been accused of dodging tax. In 2013 Boots was accused of using a legal loophole to avoid paying £1.1BILLION in tax.
The situation is so bad that even the minister in charge is angry with the shops. David Gauke MP told the Independent: “The VAT relief at airports is intended to reduce prices for travellers, not as a windfall gain for shops.”
Join the revolt against the the shameless “sunscreen scam” by signing this petition.
