EU planning tax on bereaved — UKIP

Another stealth tax may be on the cards, according to the UK Independence Party.

It claims that the European Commission is looking into the possibility of removing the VAT-exempt status for burials and cremations.

And if this happened, hundreds of pounds could be added to the cost a funeral because undertakers would pass on the 17.5 per cent levy to the bereaved.

Rochdale’s UK Independence Party Euro-MP, John Whittaker, said: “As if we didn’t have enough to worry about with the cost of living. Now it’s the cost of dying as well.

“This would be a direct tax on death which would add to the cost of funerals and cause extra distress to bereaved families. It is something that UKIP most certainly objects to.”

The matter was brought to Mr Whittaker’s attention by funeral director Hilary Jones who described the proposal as a tax on the bereaved.

She said: “They are actually already paying VAT once as we have to pay it on goods and services we buy in, such as coffins.

“This proposal means they will have to pay it again on top of the overall bill. You may only live once but they want to tax you twice.

“We will end up with people unable to afford to bury their loved ones. The average cost of a funeral is already £2,000 and this would add £350 to the price.”