The theme of Tampon Tax He returns to the center of the debate after the Youth & Future Association has filed a bill of popular initiative for the cut of VAT 5% on women’s hygiene products and early childhood. The 2025 maneuver has in fact confirmed the 10% VAT on absorbent and diapers, excluding a new 5% cut. A choice that has aroused controversy, especially considering that in other European countries VAT on these essential products is already reduced or zeroed.
But how much would it cost the state to reduce VAT on absorbent and diapers and how much would Italian families earn? In this article we will explore the economic impact of a possible reduction of VAT, analyzing also those who would benefit from it.
What is the VAT on the absorbent?
Starting from 1 January 2024, the VAT rate on absorbent in Italy is 10%. The modification was introduced by the Budget Law 2024, which increased VAT from the previous 5% to 10%.
The increase aroused controversy, above all because VAT on other products considered “non -essential” is lower. For example, fresh truffle has a 5%VAT rate. In addition, the 10% increase entailed an increase in fixed costs For a person of fertile with a menstrual cycle, aggravating the problem of menstrual povertya condition that mainly affects women with less economic possibilities.
Who has lowered the VAT of the absorbents?
VAT on absorbent has undergone several changes in recent years:
- 2022 – The Draghi government has reduced the VAT rate from 22% to 10%, recognizing absorbents as essential goods;
- 2023 – The Meloni government has further lowered VAT to 5%, bringing Italy to the level of other European countries that apply reduced rates on these products:
- 2024 – With the Budget Law 2024, the VAT was reported to 10%.
The increase took place despite the attempts of opposition. In the maneuver 2025, in fact, a group of deputies of the Democratic Party (Pd), left -wing green alliance, Five Star Movement and Action proposed to lower VAT to 4% on all female hygiene products and for children. The amendment was rejected from the majority of government.
There was no lack of clash, especially because i 180 million euros necessary to finance the cut of VAT were intended for other expenses, including the cancellation of fines for no vax.
How much is VAT on diapers and other childhood products?
Also on diapers and other products for children the VAT has been increased to 10% from 1 January 2024. The modification involved:
- diapers;
- milk powder and liquid for babies;
- car seats (20%)
These products, in 2023, benefited from a rate reduced to 5%, but the Budget Law 2024 restored VAT to 10%. As in the case of absorbent, also for i diapers and other products For childhood, a 4% reduction of VAT had been proposed during the discussion of the 2025 maneuver, but the proposal was rejected.
A choice that has raised controversy, above all because Italy is now in contrast to other European countries, such as Spain, which has zeroed VAT on these products. In addition, the decision appears in contradiction with the government’s declared objective to support Italian births and families.
How much does it cost to reduce VAT on absorbent and diapers?
Reducing VAT on absorbent and diapers from 10% to 5% would cost the state about 180 million euros per year, according to the proposal of the law of popular initiative “Frescura Law – Menia Corbanese – Belfi”. The question to ask, given the cost, is what Italian families would save.
But let’s take a wider ride and try to understand why the Meloni government has decided to eliminate the VAT cut at 5% from the maneuver. The motivation can be reduced to “not convenient”. This is because, to mention Giorgia Meloni, the cut “unfortunately it was in the vast majority of cases absorbed by price increases”.
On the state budget The cost is totally sustainable, given that it would just represent 0.018% of the total. Above all, as reported by the text of the bill, if the minor tax revenue can be compensated by reducing the financial allocations for the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic. In 2020, in fact, a constitutional law reduced the number of parliamentarians from 945 to 600, but the annual resources intended for chamber and the Senate have never been adequate accordingly.
Currently, the annual budget is around 943 million euros for the room and 505 million euros for the Senate. The proposal suggests that Cut 180 million euros from these equipment, exploiting the savings deriving from the least number of parliamentarians. In this way, the cut of VAT would be financed without weighing on other budget items.
How much consumers would save
Reducing VAT from 10% to 5% would involve concrete saving for Italian families. According to the calculations made:
- For a family with a small child, the saving on diapers would be about 19 euros per year;
- For a woman who uses absorbent, the annual savings would be around 6.30 euros.
In total, a family with a child and a person who uses absorbent would save About 25.30 euros per year. They are amounts modestat least at first sight, but for large families or for those who find themselves in economic difficulty are not at all. Considering that the average annual cost for diapers is about 380 euros and for the absorbent is 126 euros, the cut of VAT is however a concrete help.
Furthermore, there is the question of the social impact. Absorbents are a basic necessity and their taxation is often considered native Because only those who have a menstrual cycle affects. Reducing VAT would be a step towards thegender equityrecognizing that these are not luxury goods, but essential articles for personal hygiene. The lowering of VAT is therefore a symbolic gesture of attention to the needs of people with menstrual cycle and families with young children and still helps to reduce the economic gender gap.
A bill to reduce the Tampon Tax
The idea of reducing VAT on 5% absorbent and diapers stems from the need to equate these products essential to other basic necessities, as already happens in many European countries. In Spainfor example, VAT on absorbent and childhood products has been reset from 2022, while in France it was reduced to 5.5%. Also in Germany VAT was lowered to 7%, recognizing that these are essential products for female hygiene and early childhood.
For this reason, the “Young & Future” Association has presented a bill of popular initiative for the cut of VAT 5% on women’s hygiene and early childhood products. The proposal is known as “Frescura Law – Menia Corbanese – Belfi”. For the proposal to be discussed in Parliament, it is necessary Raccommodate at least 50,000 signatures. Those who want to support the initiative can do it online through the national “referendum and popular initiatives” of the Ministry of Justice.
Here’s how to proceed:
- access the platform with digital identity, using Spid, Cie (electronic identity card) or CNS (National Services Card);
- Look for the initiative by inserting the surname of one of the three proponents: Frescura, Menia Corbanese or Belfi:
- Select the “Sosta initiative” option and follow the steps to confirm the signature.
