Rejected petition Remove VAT on gym membership

We need to encourage regular exercise rather than taxing it. 20% of the cost of a gym membership is VAT. Removing VAT will increase gym attendance, make for a healthier population and save the NHS materially by reducing obesity and lifestyle related care costs.

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The UK is in the midst of an obesity epidemic, which is putting myriad strains on the NHS. Yet HMRC requires 20% VAT on gym membership. The health benefits of regular exercise are well known.Yet only 15% of people are members of gyms, with fewer still attending regularly. Price is the single biggest determining factor in making the decision to attend a gym. Removing VAT would save 20% on the price, encouraging gym attendance and gym viability, also saving the NHS via a healthier populace.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue.

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https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/236551

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Date submitted 1 May 2019
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