Denmark working on scrapping VAT on books to encourage reading

Brussels – The book, that great unknown. According to Istat data, in Italy, fewer than 40 percent of people read at least one book a year, excluding school or professional reading. In Europe, the average is higher, but not by much: 53 percent. There are many reasons for this, and the internet and social media also have their share of responsibility. 

The cost of books could also be to blame; for instance, countries like Norway (outside the EU) have abolished VAT, and others are thinking of doing so. Denmark, a part of the EU, intends to abolish VAT on books in an attempt to encourage reading.

Currently, Denmark’s tax rate is 25 percent, the highest in the world. Yesterday (20 August), Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt announced that the government will propose the abolition of the book tax to encourage reading in the budget bill. The measure should cost 330 million kroner (just over 44 million euros) per year. 

“This is something I am committed to as Minister of Culture, because I believe we have to put everything on the line if we want to put an end to the reading crisis that has unfortunately been spreading in recent years,” Engel-Schmidt told the Ritzau news agency.

In Italy, VAT on books is 4 percent.