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French parliament reduces VAT on shoe and leather goods repairs

Nov 6, 2024 France

France’s lower house of parliament has approved a tax break for repairers by reducing the VAT rate from 20% to 5.5% on the repair of shoes and leather goods

With 153 votes in favour and 35 against, France’s lower house of parliament, the Assemblée Nationale, has reduced the VAT rate from 20% to 5.5% on the repair of shoes and leather goods, as well as textiles and bicycles.

The national organisation representing shoe repair businesses across France, the Fédération Française de la Cordonnerie Multiservice (FFCM), has welcomed the tax change, highlighting on its social networks that “this measure is essential to promote a circular economy and support local craftsmen”, whose profession is key to extending the life of products and reducing waste.

Earlier this year, the FFCM argued that “without large-scale support based on pillars such as the repair bonus, the repairability index and the circular VAT on product repairs, we risk a loss of skills and know-how that will cause us to lose years in our fight against climate change”.

Image Credits: alaville-alamontagne.com

France Footwear Leather goods Repair Shoes Tax