Denmark will stop charging the 25% VAT on books, the highest rate in the world, with a government proposal in the budget bill. The measure is expected to cost about 330m kroner (38m) a year. Culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt framed the change as necessary to end a spreading reading crisis and secured funding to link public libraries and schools. Other Nordic countries exempt books from standard VAT or apply lower rates: Finland 14%, Sweden 6%, Norway zero. Sweden’s 2001 VAT cut raised book sales but analysis found purchases were mainly by existing readers. Denmark sold 8.3m books in 2023, with a population just over 6 million.
This is something that I, as minister of culture, have worked for, because I believe that we must put everything at stake if we are to end the reading crisis that has unfortunately been spreading in recent years, Engel-Schmidt told the Ritzau news agency . I am incredibly proud. It is not every day that one succeeds in convincing colleagues that such massive money should be spent on investing in the consumption and culture of the Danes.
Other Nordic countries also charge a standard rate of 25% VAT, but it does not apply to books. VAT on books in Finland is 14%, in Sweden 6% and in Norway zero. Sweden reduced its VAT on books in 2001, resulting in a rise in book sales, but analysis found they were bought by existing readers. It is also about getting literature out there, said Engel-Schmidt.
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