Scrap the reading tax!

Picture of Martin Reed

Martin Reed

Martin was the SoA's Head of Communications from 2016 to 2024.
It has been a longstanding principle that VAT is zero-rated on sales of printed books, in order to prevent a tax on reading and a tax on knowledge.

An anomaly in EU law has prevented the Government from extending the same status to digital publications such as audiobooks and e-books. But earlier this month the European Commission agreed to allow all member states to give e-books and audiobooks the same VAT-free status as printed books.

We are asking our members to write to your MPs, urging them to call on the Government to implement this change. We have drafted a template letter below, and you can find out here who your MP is and how to contact them.

If you do write in, it would be really helpful if you could let us know by emailing tgallagher@societyofauthors.org so we have an idea of many emails have been sent.

Template letter

Personal messages are always more effective in getting the attention of MPs, so please customise if possible, and remember to include your address in the email to prove that you are a constituent.  

Subject: Axe the reading tax

Dear

I am writing as your constituent and a member of the Society of Authors regarding VAT on digital publications such as e-books and audiobooks.

It has been a longstanding principle that VAT is zero-rated on sales of printed books, in order to prevent a tax on reading and a tax on knowledge.

An anomaly in EU law has prevented the Government from extending the same status to e-publications such as audiobooks and e-books. But the EU has now agreed to allow all member states to give e-books and audiobooks the same VAT-free status as printed books.

It is now within the UK’s power to axe the reading tax by reducing VAT on e-books and audiobooks to zero. The cost to the Treasury is likely to be negligible. But the impact on authors and readers would be considerable, enabling more books to be sold and more people to experience the pleasures and educational benefits of reading.

It is important that the UK does not delay and risk putting itself at a competitive disadvantage with other EU countries. I would therefore be grateful if you could write to the Chancellor, urging him to bring digital publications into line with printed books by reducing VAT down to 0%. Together, we can axe the reading tax.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

27 February 2023

Sir Mike Penning MP submits an Early Day Motion and asks our members to write to their own MPs about the tax on audiobooks

22 November 2019

We call on the next Government to support Britain’s cultural heart: with funding and legislation, with transparency and ambition.

22 October 2018

The UK Government has the opportunity to overturn an illogical and manifestly unfair tax system that discriminates against digital readers.