Finance Ministry ends VAT waiver on respirators

The Czech Finance Ministry has decided against extending the waiver on VAT for high-filter masks and respirators. The waiver, which was introduced in February of this year, and was originally meant to last for just two months, will end on December 31. The exemption aimed to make respirators affordable in view of the government-enforced Covid measures cost Czech coffers over 1 billion crowns. The Finance Ministry says the supply of respirators on the market is sufficient and there is no threat of huge price hikes.