Abstract: The object of the research is the mechanism of collection and calculation of the VAT taxable base and economic effects created as a result of selecting particular elements of this tax. The subject of the research is the taxation of food products in the process of their disposal and use of certain VAT exemptions. The authors of the article examine effects that arise as a result of implementing reduced rates established for operations with food products. The authors pay special attention to the analysis of the distribution effect as a result of applying the reduced VAT rate established in the process of disposal of food products between households with different levels of prosperity. The methodological basis of the research is the applicable Russian Federation law about taxes and levies, in particular, VAT tax, as well as official statistical data provided by the Federal Tax Service and Russian Federal State Statistics Service. The following research methods have been used by the authors in the course of their research: observation, analysis and summarisation. As a result of their research, the authors have discovered inefficiency of the VAT reduced tax rate for certain groups of food products established for the purpose of supporting indigent groups of taxpayers. The authors' special contribution to the research of the topic is that they prove the need to refuse from the established VAT rebate in the form of reduced tax rates for food products. The novelty of the research is caused by the fact that the authors offer a set of compensation measures in the event of refusal from the aforesaid VAT rebate as well as develop general principles of tax policy aimed at minimisation of distoring economic effects from VAT.