Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to research from the National Literacy Trust and Audible on the impact on the mental health of adults of listening to audiobooks, if he will make it his policy to remove VAT on audiobooks to bring tax policy in line with the zero VAT on physical and ebooks.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The extension of the zero rate of VAT to e-publications was introduced to provide consistency of approach between certain physical and digital publications, to support reading and literacy in all its forms. Audiobooks are already taxed consistently at the standard rate in both physical and digital formats.
In UK law, a book is deemed to be something that is read or looked at; a definition that does not include audio content in either digital or physical form.
The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT, but there are no current plans to extend the VAT zero rate to audiobooks.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of research from the National Literacy Trust and Audible on the impact of listening to audiobooks on people's health and wellbeing; and if he will make it his policy to support the campaign to reduce VAT on audiobooks.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
No specific assessment has been made. Taxation is a matter for HM Treasury.
Asked by: Andrew Lewer (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, about the potential merits of levying VAT on audiobooks.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Audiobooks, in both physical and digital format, are subject to VAT at the standard rate.
VAT has been designed as a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to the vast majority of goods and services, including audiobooks. VAT raised around £130 billion in 2019-20 and helps to fund key spending priorities.
VAT, as a matter of tax policy, is overseen by the HM Treasury. There are no planned discussions between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the merits of levying VAT on audiobooks.
The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT.
Calling on the Government to extend the removal of VAT on e-books to include audiobooks, in both physical and digital formats.
We are therefore asking that the additional 20 percent cost barrier for access to Audiobooks be removed, bringing them into line with other physical books and e-books.
Found: announcement in the Budget brings e-books into line with physical books, which are already exempt from VAT
Formal Minutes Nov. 18 2021
Committee: Petitions CommitteeFound: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/252432 43 Exempt fish and chip shops from VAT and save our
Jul. 09 2021
Source Page: BBC Annual Report and Accounts for 2020/21Found: We also brought back some classic comedies and audiobooks to entertain and podcasts like for
Apr. 08 2021
Source Page: I. COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing recovery action plan. 55p. II. Preventing suicide in England: fifth progress report of the cross-government outcomes strategy to save lives. Incl. annexes. 71p. III. Letter dated 06/04/2021 from Nadine Dorries MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding two documents for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.Found: It also provides distraction content, such as National Prison Radio podcasts, audiobooks and podcasts
Mar. 27 2021
Source Page: COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing recovery action planFound: It also provides distraction content, such as National Prison Radio podcasts, audiobooks and podcasts
Written Evidence Feb. 02 2021
Inquiry: Economic impact of coronavirusFound: good.Last year, the Chancellor took steps to level the playing field by zero-rating e-publications for VAT
Written Evidence Jan. 07 2021
Inquiry: Living online: the long-term impact on wellbeingFound: Removal of VAT on audiobooksThe move to use more digital technology has adjusted the way in which creative