Liverpool tech company Gas Tag plans to launch a high-profile campaign to abolish VAT on all safety products and services that go into UK homes.
The government is being urged to scrap the 20 per cent tax on a range of products including fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, gas safety checks, fire doors and fire extinguishers.
The Axe Safety Tax campaign will be officially launched at a roundtable discussion in the House of Commons on Wednesday (31 January) morning. A petition has also been launched to have the issue debated in Parliament.
The campaign is supported by North West MPs Mike Amesbury and Louise Ellman as well as former England footballers Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher and TV presenter Paddy McGuinness.
“At a time when safety is in the spotlight, raising money in taxation from making homes safer is shameful and not a reflection of the compassionate society in which we live,” said Gas Tag finance director George Dutton.
Mike Amesbury, MP for Weaver Vale & member of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee, added: “Safety is rightly at the top of the political agenda. It is ridiculous that tax is charged on safety products and services. Removing the VAT will make them more affordable and save more lives. It’s the right thing to do.”
Louise Ellman, the MP for Liverpool Riverside, said: “I support the campaign to cut VAT on safety products. These are potentially life-saving products and they should be affordable.”
Several leading housing associations are also backing the campaign. The VAT raised annually on safety products and inspections across the social housing sector is in excess of £200m.
Gas Tag has recently secured a multi-million pound investment from private equity house Waterland. The deal valued the business at more than £20m.