Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 08:30 - 19:00 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
25 November 2014 12:52
Children should be exempt from APD according to a group of MPs
Plane tickets for children under the age of 12 should be exempt from VAT, according to a group of MPs.
An Early Day Motion backed by more than 30 politicians is calling on the Government to scrap Air Passenger Duty (APD) for youngsters to help make holidays more affordable for families.
They argue that families should not face any additional punitive taxes, as having to book flights during the school holidays means they already pay a premium.
The MPs say VAT on a trip to Florida is around £94 per passenger, so a family of four could save £188 if the APD was scrapped. Those travelling to Spain could save £13 per child, leaving them with more cash for holiday essentials such as family travel insurance.
Britons currently pay more tax on flights than people anywhere else in the world, with only four other European countries charging a similar tax at all.
Of these, Germany levies the next highest tax after the UK, but charges passengers less than half of what Britons pay
APD also applies to passengers on domestic flights, so it could hit families wishing to travel from England to Scotland or other parts of the UK.
A new poll for campaign group Scrap The Tax On Family Flights has found that four-fifths of Britons believe every child should have an annual family holiday.
The research by ComRes also revealed that three in four Britons think it's unfair that families from outside the UK do not get charged APD.
Two in three agree with the group of MPs that under-12s should be exempt from APD, just like they are exempt from VAT on clothing and some food items as well as other taxes.
Scrap The Tax On Family Flights spokesman Dale Keller said charging children APD puts a strain on family holiday budgets and falls short of "the Government's own family test".
Abolishing the tax could help families save on their annual holidays and would only come "at a minimal cost to the Government", he added.
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who launched the Early Day Motion, said families must be able to have an annual holiday, and ministers could help make this more affordable by scrapping APD.
09 December 2019
Marvel at views of the world's most spectacular peaks.
[more...]
02 December 2019
Marvel at the world's most magnificent creatures in untouched corners of the globe.
28 November 2019
Forget stopovers, sleeping pills and binging on in-flight entertainment. A slice of winter sun is just a short flight away.
Will you see in 2020 from a totally new destination? See how they celebrate around the world.
18 November 2019
Keen to get under the skin of the samba city? Take a look at some of the must-sees and must-dos in Rio de Janeiro.
While the Amazon amazes, there's much more to Brazil than the world's largest rainforest. Join us for an expedition into the country's lesser known natural attractions.
12 November 2019
The nation on the Nile offers intrigue beyond your wildest imagination. Check out our top 5 things to see and do.
Immerse yourself in the food, parades and spirit of America's favourite holiday, across five unique locations.
04 November 2019
Head to the Southern Hemisphere for sun, sea and spectacles of the wild kind.
As the nights draw in, we're turning our thoughts to the warmer climes of the Southern Hemisphere and treks in Patagonia that will put a spring in your step...
Escape the UK's shorter autumn days and head to the Southern Hemisphere for sun and sporting fun.
21 October 2019
Struggling for holiday inspiration? Let us inspire you with our list of book-themed breaks.