Many hotels and restaurants in the UK have money problems. They want the government to lower a tax called VAT.

許多英國的酒店與餐廳面臨資金問題。他們希望政府能降低一種稱為增值稅（VAT）的稅率。

These businesses have high costs. Energy is expensive and workers need more pay. Because of this, many businesses lose money. Some businesses will close soon.

這些企業的成本很高。能源費用昂貴，且員工需要更高的薪資。因此，許多企業面臨虧損，部分企業將於近期歇業。

Some leaders want to lower the VAT from 20% to 10%. Other countries in Europe have lower taxes. They say this change will help them hire more workers.

部分領袖希望將增值稅從 20% 降低至 10%。歐洲其他國家的稅率較低。他們表示此舉將有助於僱用更多員工。

But the government says this is too expensive. They think big companies like McDonald's will get the most money. They think other tax changes are better for small businesses.

但政府表示這樣成本太高。他們認為像麥當勞這樣的大公司將獲益最多，並認為其他稅務調整對小企業更有利。

Restaurants and hotels are still in trouble. They want lower taxes, but the government is worried about the cost.

餐廳與酒店仍處於困境。他們希望減稅，但政府擔心成本過高。

The UK hospitality industry is currently facing significant financial instability, which has led industry leaders to call for a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT).

英國餐旅業目前正面臨嚴重的財務不穩定，導致業界領袖呼籲降低增值稅 (VAT)。

The sector's current instability is caused by a combination of economic and political factors. Previous disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic have been made worse by rising energy costs, which were triggered by the invasion of Ukraine and instability in the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, the government's decision to increase the national minimum wage and employers' national insurance contributions has reportedly added £5bn in annual costs. Data from industry groups shows that 23% of hospitality businesses are currently losing money, and about 16.7% expect to go bankrupt within the next year.

該產業目前的不穩定是由經濟與政治因素共同造成的。先前 Covid-19 疫情造成的衝擊，因俄烏戰爭及霍爾木茲海峽不穩定導致的能源成本上升而進一步惡化。此外，政府決定提高國家最低工資及雇主國民保險供款，據報導每年增加了 50 億英鎊的成本。業界團體的數據顯示，目前有 23% 的餐旅企業處於虧損狀態，約 16.7% 預計將在未來一年內破產。

In response, a group of industry figures, including Tom Kerridge and Nick Mackenzie, has started the 'VAT’s the problem' campaign. This initiative asks for the hospitality VAT rate to be lowered from 20% to 10% to match other European countries. For example, Germany has a 7% rate, while France, Italy, and Spain use 10%. The Republic of Ireland also plans to reduce its rate to 9% for food businesses. Supporters emphasize that this change would make it easier for companies to hire more staff and provide professional training.

為此，包括 Tom Kerridge 和 Nick Mackenzie 在內的業界人士發起了「VAT 才是問題」運動。此倡議要求將餐旅業的 VAT 税率從 20% 降至 10%，以與其他歐洲國家接軌。例如，德國的稅率為 7%，而法國、義大利和西班牙則為 10%。愛爾蘭共和國也計劃將食品企業的稅率降至 9%。支持者強調，此舉將使企業更容易聘請更多員工並提供專業培訓。

However, this proposal faces opposition from official institutions due to the high cost. HMRC and the Tax Policy Associates (TPA) estimate that this reduction would cost between £10.5bn and £12bn. The TPA asserts that large multinational corporations, such as McDonald’s, would benefit the most rather than small businesses. Consequently, the TPA suggests that reforming business rates or reversing national insurance increases would be a more effective way to encourage growth. While politician Andy Burnham previously supported the VAT cut, he has recently emphasized the reform of business rates as a priority.

然而，此建議因成本過高而遭到官方機構反對。英國稅務海關總署 (HMRC) 與稅務政策協會 (TPA) 估計，此項減稅將導致 105 億至 120 億英鎊的損失。TPA 主張，最獲益的將是如麥當勞等大型跨國公司，而非小企業。因此，TPA 建議改革商業率 (business rates) 或撤銷國民保險增幅將是鼓勵增長更有效的方法。雖然政治人物 Andy Burnham 先前支持降低 VAT，但他最近強調改革商業率才是優先事項。

The hospitality sector remains in a fragile financial position, with a continuing conflict between industry demands for tax relief and government concerns over spending.

餐旅業的財務狀況依然脆弱，業界對稅務減免的需求與政府對支出擔憂之間的衝突仍在持續。

The UK hospitality industry is currently experiencing significant financial instability, prompting industry stakeholders to advocate for a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT).

英國餐旅業目前正經歷顯著的財務不穩定，促使業內利益相關者倡導降低增值稅 (VAT)。

The sector's current instability is attributed to a confluence of macroeconomic and policy-driven factors. Historical disruptions stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic have been compounded by escalating energy costs, precipitated by the invasion of Ukraine and geopolitical instability in the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, the implementation of increased national minimum wages and employers' national insurance contributions by the current administration has reportedly added £5bn in annual operational costs. Data commissioned by industry trade bodies indicates that 23% of hospitality enterprises are currently operating at a loss, with approximately 16.7% anticipating insolvency within a twelve-month horizon.

該產業目前的動盪歸因於宏觀經濟與政策驅動因素的共同影響。Covid-19 疫情造成的歷史性衝擊，加上俄烏戰爭及霍爾木茲海峽地緣政治不穩定導致能源成本飆升，使得情況更加惡化。此外，現任政府提高國家最低工資與雇主國民保險供款，據報每年增加了 50 億英鎊的營運成本。業團委託的數據顯示，23% 的餐旅企業目前處於虧損狀態，約 16.7% 預計在十二個月內會破產。

In response to these conditions, a coalition of industry figures, including Tom Kerridge and Nick Mackenzie, has initiated the 'VAT’s the problem' campaign. This initiative seeks a reduction of the hospitality VAT rate from 20% to 10%, citing a lack of alignment with European counterparts. For instance, Germany maintains a 7% rate, while France, Italy, and Spain utilize 10%. The Republic of Ireland is also scheduled to implement a reduction to 9% for food-led enterprises. Proponents argue that such a fiscal adjustment would facilitate workforce expansion and vocational training.

針對這些情況，包括 Tom Kerridge 和 Nick Mackenzie 在內的業界領袖發起了一場名為「VAT 才是問題」(VAT’s the problem) 的運動。此倡議尋求將餐旅業的增值稅率從 20% 降至 10%，理由是與歐洲同行不一致。例如，德國維持 7% 的稅率，而法國、義大利和西班牙則採用 10%。愛爾蘭共和國也計劃將以餐飲為主之企業的稅率降至 9%。支持者主張，此類財政調整將有助於擴大勞動力並提供職業訓練。

Conversely, the proposal faces institutional opposition based on fiscal efficiency. HMRC and the Tax Policy Associates (TPA) estimate the cost of this reduction to be between £10.5bn and £12bn. The TPA contends that the primary beneficiaries would be large multinational corporations—exemplified by a projected £432m retention for McDonald’s—rather than small-scale enterprises. Consequently, the TPA suggests that a reform of business rates, which are tied to property valuations, or a reversal of national insurance increases would constitute a more precise mechanism for stimulating growth. While political figure Andy Burnham has previously expressed support for the VAT reduction, his recent economic discourse has prioritized the reform of business rates over direct VAT intervention.

相反地，該提案因財政效率問題面臨機構反對。英國稅務及海關總署 (HMRC) 與稅務政策協會 (TPA) 估計，此項減稅的成本在 105 億至 120 億英鎊之間。TPA 主張，主要的受益者將是大型跨國公司——例如麥當勞預計可獲益 4.32 億英鎊——而非小規模企業。因此，TPA 建議改革與物業估值掛鉤的商業率 (Business Rates)，或撤銷國民保險增幅，將會是刺激增長更精確的機制。雖然政治人物 Andy Burnham 先前曾表示支持降低增值稅，但他近期的經濟論述將改革商業率置於優先地位，而非直接干預增值稅。

The hospitality sector remains in a state of financial precariousness, with a continuing tension between industry demands for VAT relief and government concerns regarding fiscal expenditure.

餐旅業仍處於財務不穩定狀態，業內要求減稅與政府對財政支出的擔憂之間持續存在緊張關係。