Denmark to Eliminate VAT on Books to Encourage Reading | Denmark

Denmark is set to eliminate VAT on books to encourage more people to read. With the country’s current VAT rate on books standing at 25%, the highest in the world, the government believes this policy is contributing to a declining reading culture. Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt announced his intention to propose the removal of the tax on books in the government’s budget bill. Anticipated to cost 330m kroner (£38m) annually, this initiative reflects Engel-Schmidt’s commitment to addressing the growing reading crisis and promoting the Danish literary and cultural consumption. Although other Nordic countries also levy 25% VAT, books are exempt from this tax in these nations. While a similar move in Sweden did boost book sales, these were largely by existing readers. Denmark, which sold 8.3m books in 2023 for a population of just over 6 million, aims to make literature more accessible through this measure. Its most popular genres include books for the very young and crime, thriller, and suspense novels. However, Engel-Schmidt has expressed his willingness to reassess the decision if the VAT removal does not lead to lower book prices, prioritizing consumer affordability over publisher profits.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/20/denmark-to-abolish-vat-on-books-in-effort-to-get-more-people-reading