Pakistan's government is removing the 18% sales tax on women's menstrual products and birth control, dropping it to zero in the next fiscal year's budget. This follows a successful lobbying and legal effort by activists.
Pakistan's finance minister announced plans to remove sales tax on sanitary towels and related items, a move hailed by campaigners and UN Women. The decision follows a court case brought by young lawyers against the "period tax", which made products unaffordable for many.
Japan's planned 8% sales tax cut on food is delayed due to inflexible cash registers requiring a major overhaul, potentially taking up to a year, amidst funding concerns and accusations of delay tactics.
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a temporary cut in VAT on attractions like theme parks and theatres from 20% to 5%, effective late June to early September, to support the economy during the Iran war.
California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed expanding the state's sales tax to include digital prewritten software, aiming for parity with in-store purchases. The move could impact software and SaaS companies and mirrors digital services taxes seen in other countries.
