JD Wetherspoon’s chairman, Tim Martin, has long-complained about supermarkets’ treatment when it comes to the payment of Value Added Tax (VAT), saying it gives them an unfair advantage – particularly at a time when the hospitality sector is struggling to recover from the COVID pandemic because of the cost of living crisis.
“Supermarkets pay zero VAT in respect of food sales, whereas pubs and restaurants pay 20%. This tax benefit allows supermarkets to subsidise the selling price of beer,” he wrote.
