This petition was submitted during the 2015-2017 parliament
Petition Once the UK is not bound by EU legislation remove the 20% VAT on e-literature
Ebooks and paid e-literature (electronic newspaper/magazine subscriptions) carry 20% VAT but paper books, newspapers and magazines are zero rated for VAT.
In the past we have been told that EU legislation prevents a 0% VAT rate and that e-literature is a 'service'.
More details
After BREXIT the UK will set VAT rates on this.
Claiming e-formats are a service but paper is not is ridiculous since both formats require:
an author
an editor
formatting
Only paper requires tree felling, transport, manufacture, printing, storage, eventual disposal. Re-pulped books require de-inking & disposal of toxic waste.
e-formats need little oil, produce little toxic waste & add almost nothing to carbon emissions.
The government should encourage e-formats by removing this bizarre VAT.
This petition closed early because of a General Election Find out more on the Petitions Committee website
42 signatures
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10,000 signatures required to get a government response