We’ve all heard of the tampon tax, and in 2021, VAT on tampons and period pads was abolished after successful campaign work established they were a necessity, and VAT on period pants was finally scrapped at the start of this year. But, did you know there’s a bra tax, too?

That’s right: bras are subject to VAT, which currently stands at 20%. The only exemption is women who have had breast cancer surgery, who don’t pay VAT on certain bras.

However, at The Society of Radiographers’ (SoR) recent annual conference, radiographers called on the government to abolish VAT on bras, saying they should be deemed vital for supporting women’s health.

Speaking at the conference, the delegates who raised the motion said: “The imposition of VAT on bras disproportionately affects women. Taxing bras could be considered discriminatory as per the Equality Act 2010.”

As we all know, comfortable and supportive bras can be expensive. And, the motion raised this, airing worries that wearing an ill-fitting bra could be leading to problems such as back ache. “While there may not be any health conditions related to wearing a bra, there could be some musculoskeletal (MSK) ones, particularly if you wear a larger cup size,” they said. “Those who are wearing a bra size D or above often get back ache, aching shoulders and neck pain, because of the weight of their breasts. Wearing a good-quality, well-fitted bra could alleviate some of these issues, and reduce time off sick for MSK issues.”

The healthcare professionals who raised the issue also expressed that they hope their message would gain support and traction from the public, much like the tampon tax did, especially as it could be deemed to be an equality issue. Gill Hodges, a previous president of the SoR, pointed to the fact that “only people with breasts have to pay for VAT on bras”. 

The hope is that the cause will be picked up by campaigners who can lobby the government to remove VAT on bras.

Images: Getty