The National Rally wants to abolish the reduced rate of VAT on basic necessities. But its vice-president, Sébastien Chenu, does not seem to have mastered the subject. This Monday, he was unable to quote the rate to which these essential products are subject, on the air of Sud Radio.
Sébastien Chenu was launched on the price of gasoline and the “reduction in state taxes”, when he shifted to “0% VAT on basic necessities”. But what is the current rate? “VAT today, it is at…, it is at… listen, you are tricking me, because I am going to say something stupid,” he first stammered, before giving a figure: “It is at 8.5%, I believe.” Error, the rate is 5.5%.
This is an “unfair tax”
“Not on all” products, however, insisted the number two of the RN, then affirming that between 5.5% and 8.5%, “we are in the same margin, in the same range”. Verification made on the tax website, the rate of 8.5% corresponds to the normal VAT in the overseas departments.
But it doesn’t matter, since at the RN “we are proposing that it be at 0%” because “it is an unfair tax” which “has a much greater impact on households in difficulty”, recalled Sébastien Chenu.