Ireland announced it is finally doing away with the VAT that has so far been applicable to e-books and audiobooks so far, independent.ie reported. This marks a significant development for avid readers who have long grappled with the burden of higher prices on e-books compared to their printed counterparts brought about by the imposition of higher taxes. Minister McGrath … [Read more...] about VAT abolished on e-books and audiobooks in Ireland
VAT
Greece lowers VAT on e-books and audiobooks to 6%
The government in Greece has decided to lower the value-added tax or VAT on ebooks and audiobooks from a rather high 24 percent to 6 percent in the country. This has been done as per a recommendation by the Ministry of Culture. The move is being implemented as per an amendment to the VAT code which will take effect from the date of publication in the Government Gazette on July … [Read more...] about Greece lowers VAT on e-books and audiobooks to 6%
Kobo is beginning to charge 0% VAT in the UK for ebooks
The UK government announced last week that they have reduced the VAT on ebooks from 20% to 0% seven months early. This was done because of the whole virus pandemic and people are self-isolating at home and reading more. Amazon quickly announced that they were in the process of discounting all of their ebooks and digital magazines, so people would be paying less. Today, Kobo … [Read more...] about Kobo is beginning to charge 0% VAT in the UK for ebooks
Amazon reduces the price of ebooks in the United Kingdom
Amazon is in the process of reducing the price of all Kindle ebooks sold in the UK. This is due to the elimination of VAT on digital magazines, newspapers and ebooks. The UK government originally was poised to launch the reduction in December, but have pulled the trigger seven months early, due to the pandemic. Amazon has just rolled out the new pricing on ebooks and … [Read more...] about Amazon reduces the price of ebooks in the United Kingdom
Germany is lowering the VAT on ebooks to 7%
Germany plans on lowering the VAT on ebooks from 19% to 7% starting in January. This VAT reduction was made possible by the passing of the VAT Directive from 2018, which created the possibility of equal tax treatment for printed and digital publishing products. Germany is the second country to officially announce a change to the VAT policy for ebooks. The Netherlands was the … [Read more...] about Germany is lowering the VAT on ebooks to 7%
EU Removes VAT on eBooks
In a decision that has been years in the making, the EU has decided to allow the removal of VAT on ebooks, just as it has done for print books all this time. This single change could spell an increase in sales of digital works and the technology to read them, and in the interaction between readers and digital-only indie authors. For years, ebooks have carried the sting of as … [Read more...] about EU Removes VAT on eBooks
EU Looks to Dissolve Geo-Blocking for Netflix, Similar Sites
A new look into film and television rights and a new observation on how exactly the European Union is supposed to function as a single marketplace may lead to big changes for companies that offer streaming services like Netflix and Amazon. One EU commissioner has demanded some answers for why certain markets in the EU are open to international entertainment content, and others … [Read more...] about EU Looks to Dissolve Geo-Blocking for Netflix, Similar Sites
No Tax Break on eBooks in the EU
There's a fun throwaway scene in the iconic climate change movie, The Day After Tomorrow. Two intellectuals who are holed up in the New York Public Library to ride out the next ice age are gathering books to burn. One of them grabs a copy of Nietzsche's works, but they argue over the implications of burning such an important thinker's book. The nerdy high school student calls … [Read more...] about No Tax Break on eBooks in the EU
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
The Cost of eBooks to Dramatically Increase in 2015
The cost of eBooks are poised to dramatically increase at the beginning of the new year, due to changes in VAT. Readers will end up having to pay anywhere from 17% to 25% more on each title, depending on the country they live in. The European Commission recently unveiled a new ruling where member states will be taxed in the European member state in which the consumer is … [Read more...] about The Cost of eBooks to Dramatically Increase in 2015
EU Announces Changes to VAT on eBooks
The European Court of Justice has just concluded that EU member states are free to charge differing rates of VAT on eBooks and paper books. This will allow all countries in Europe to basically change their VAT on all books and not break ‘fiscal neutrality’, an EU concept whereby markets for the same goods are distorted by varying tax rates. There have been major … [Read more...] about EU Announces Changes to VAT on eBooks
Allegations that Amazon Seeks New Publishers Terms in UK
It's an understood truth in publishing that anyone who works for the industry keeps a tight lid on information, especially where sales talk is concerned. From numbers of units sold to overall sales of any given book, no one is going to speak up with specifics unless he has to (or unless he's a pioneer like Hugh Howey who wants to see transparency in order to foster good … [Read more...] about Allegations that Amazon Seeks New Publishers Terms in UK
UK Rules eBooks Aren’t Books as Far as Taxation Is Concerned
There's no relief in sight for UK readers, as Parliament declared that there was no good reason or means to reduce the outrageous 20% VAT on ebooks. While their print counterparts enjoy a zero-percent tax--like many state and local governments in the US who feel that book purchasing should be supported--ebooks are still treated in much the same way as a software download and … [Read more...] about UK Rules eBooks Aren’t Books as Far as Taxation Is Concerned