Electronic books have found massive success in Canada, US and the United Kingdom. The sales of e-books represent between a quarter and a third of the consumer book market and, by 2018, will edge out printed and audio books as the most lucrative segment. Things over in mainland Europe are quite a different story. Last year, digital books made up 8% of the consumer book market in … [Read more...] about Europeans have had enough with high e-book prices
ebook vat
e-Book Prices Stable After VAT Increase
Many readers were concerned that when the VAT increased on e-Books all over Europe they have to have to pay more. This was not the case as retailers and publishers have helped cushion increase in price, so little has changed. Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kobo all based their European headquarters in Luxembourg where the VAT was only 3%. This allowed these companies to sell … [Read more...] about e-Book Prices Stable After VAT Increase
Italy and Malta Slash e-Book VAT
Starting in early 2015 the VAT readers will pay will be dependent on the country they live in, rather than the originating country of the online bookstore. This will dramatically increase the amount of money people are spending to read eBooks. Italy and Malta though, are rising to the challenge and preemptively lowering the VAT before 2015. Italy has lowered the VAT on … [Read more...] about Italy and Malta Slash e-Book VAT
Brussels Vote Might Eliminate the VAT on eBooks in the UK
The EU is having a vote in Brussels this week that might have a reverberating effect on the taxing of eBooks. The UK has no VAT fee when it comes to buying paperbacks or hardcovers but eBooks are subject to a 20% VAT fee. This has prompted companies like Kobo and Amazon to operate in Luxembourg where the VAT is only 3%. The new vote could feasibility eliminate the VAT on … [Read more...] about Brussels Vote Might Eliminate the VAT on eBooks in the UK
France and Luxembourg in Hot Water over eBook VAT
The European Commission has officially launched an infringement procedure against France and Luxembourg over the willful lowering of ebook VAT rates. The EU has given the two countries one month to respond to allegations that they are "creating serious distortions of competition." The case basically stems from authors and small publishing houses saying the current methodology … [Read more...] about France and Luxembourg in Hot Water over eBook VAT
Amazon Benefits from Higher VAT in the UK for eBooks
Parliament in the United Kingdom recently convened to discuss the issue of lowering the VAT on ebooks sold in the country. Many publishing companies wanted to lower the 20% extra people pay for their digital ebooks. A few days ago they again decided not to reduce the fee, which is a boon for Amazon. The Bookseller reports David Gauke, the UK’s exchequer secretary, said the UK … [Read more...] about Amazon Benefits from Higher VAT in the UK for eBooks
The European Commission Calls for Open Standards on eBooks
The European Commission is mulling over the possibility of implementing an open standard for ebooks so they can be read on any e-reader. During the Frankfurt Book Fair Neelie Kroes VP for the European Union's Digital Agenda told the audience that customers should be able to buy any ebook to work on any dedicated e-reader. “As the e-publishing sector develops, we may also … [Read more...] about The European Commission Calls for Open Standards on eBooks