Skip to main content
Normal View

Tax Code

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 February 2013

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Questions (354)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

354. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason VAT is charged on ebooks for use in schools, when no VAT is charged on school books; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8883/13]

View answer

Written answers

In relation to the VAT rate charged on the purchase of e-books, this matter has been raised with the Department of Finance and I am advised that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. The general position is that school books are zero-rated. The zero rate applies to printed books. All digitised publications are treated as the supply of a service liable at the standard rate of VAT. The EU position is that digital information services are not the direct equivalent of traditional printed products, including books. Even where the content is similar, the additional functionality (e.g. search facilities, hyperlinks, archives, etc) associated with electronic content produces a fundamentally different product.

Top
Share