Denmark to Abolish VAT on Books to Boost Reading

Denmark will remove its 25% VAT on books, the highest in the world, in a bid to encourage more people to read. The government believes the high tax rate has contributed to a “reading crisis” and aims to make literature more accessible.
The policy change is expected to cost 330 million kroner annually. Officials said the move is part of a broader effort to promote reading culture, including initiatives to strengthen cooperation between public libraries and schools to introduce children to literature.
Denmark joins other Nordic countries that either exempt books from VAT or apply a lower rate, including Sweden, Finland, and Norway. Previous reductions in book taxes in these countries have led to increased sales, though mostly among existing readers.
Authorities will monitor whether abolishing VAT leads to lower prices for consumers or merely higher publisher profits, with adjustments considered if the measure does not achieve its intended impact.