For a long time it has been claimed that the VAT on digital books or digital press is reduced and equates to that of traditional books in paper format. This unfortunately seems to be a long way from being achieved for all of us who enjoy digital reading and more since a few hours ago the general advocacy of the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled against the reduction of the tax set for eBooks.
The decision, which is not binding but far-reaching, has to do with the claim initiated by the Polish Constitutional Court. Once again the circle closes again, harming users and agreeing with the increasingly entrenched European Commission.
And is that it still considers that the reduced VAT can only be applied to books, newspapers and magazines that are "supplied by means of a physical medium". With this, digital books continue to maintain an unfair VAT of 21% that many governments throughout the European Union try to reduce in various ways without much success.
Now the ball is back in the court of the European Commission, which will be pronounced in a binding way at the end of 2016, although with the precedents that we have, everything indicates that unfortunately the VAT of digital books, as well as of the press and digital magazines will not move, except surprise, from 21%.
Do you think the European Commission should lower the VAT on eBooks to 4%?.