There has been talk all over Europe about for months VAT on products, especially the VAT of cultural products where there are great inequalities between the EU countries.
Many countries advocate a high rate as in Spain, but others advocate a low rate as in Ireland or Luxembourg. However it seems that the trend will be to equalize the VAT rate of ebooks and books. A) Yes, Belgium will be the first country in the European Union to have the same VAT for ebooks and books.
Last week the Belgian Trade Law was given the green light that lowered the VAT rate of the ebook to 6%. In this country, the VAT rate of the book is 6%, so both the ebook and the book will have the same VAT.
Belgium's move could cause school and problems among EU member countries
Belgium will be the first country to have this, But will not be the one. Although many will try to copy this practice, the truth is that many important European Union headquarters are located in Belgium, so this measure possibly influences European legislation and may even impose this law in European countries.
The truth is that imposing on European countries that they have the same VAT rate on books and ebooks is something practical and useful that could solve the problems that exist between the different VAT rates of the countries. A faster solution to accept and impose than the ideal, an ideal proposal that all European citizens would have the same VAT rate and the same price. However, in this incipient Europe, this situation is still ideal.
Personally I believe that the measures taken by Belgium are not bad, on the contrary and surely this will be noticed at the end of the year What do you think?