VAT crux leaves sour taste with Mayo chefs
21 May 1997
Chefs in Mayo are in a stew over tough VAT charges on their uniforms and equipment. And their recipe for success would be for the new Government to increase their personal allowances in line with other sectors.
Their campaign has been 'on the boil' for some time and all General Election candidates have been canvassed on the issue.
Under the list of agreed flat rate schedule E expenses 1996/97 the chefs are only allowed £75.
According to a spokesman for the Chefs of Mayo group: "This would only buy two complete uniforms which the chef would then have to have laundered at his own expense.
"It makes no allowance for the high cost of work safety shoes, knives and other tools that a working chef must have."
The spokesman added that they were seeking parity with other professionals, like nurses, who were allowed over £400 to buy and launder their uniforms.
"We as chefs are required and need to be just as clean and hygienic as nurses. We take the health and safety of our customers very seriously.
"For us to do our jobs effectively we need a large array of tools and uniforms and we feel we are being unfairly penalised by being charged 21% VAT."
