RHS is petitioning government to reduce tax on plants and seeds
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has launched a petition calling for VAT on all ornamental plants and seeds to be reduced from 17.5 % to 5%.
The UK’s leading gardening charity believes this move will make it more affordable for people to ‘green up’ their gardens, participate in safeguarding their local environment and help to combat the effects of climate change.
Under the current tax laws, all ornamental plants and seeds are classified as standard rated items (17.5%) despite the obvious environmental role they play.
Gordon Brown has already set a precedent for reducing VAT on goods credited with ‘green’ status, including wind turbines and solar panels, but plants and seeds are conspicuous by their absence.
Inga Grimsey, RHS director general, said: “Gardens are the way to connect people to the environment but there is little government incentive to encourage more people to green up what is on their door step. Research shows that people on lower incomes are less likely to use their gardens.
“It is an anomaly that the government makes ‘green’ provisions for building materials but not for plants. Having a garden is seen as a luxury, rather than fundamental to our lives, and what could be more essential to a sustainable future than investing in plants and trees?”
If the RHS is successful in its petition the plant-buying public will save £175 million a year.
Click here to put your name to the RHS online petition.
