The European Parliament has in September 2011 published answers to questions of the European Parliament concerning the VAT rate of on-line newspapers and magazines. They have addressed the issue that the digital version of newspapers and magazines is taxed at the higher VAT rate then their paper version although the content is more or less the same. This is one of the items which should be further discussed and addressed in the intended reform of the EU VAT system.
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As of 1 January 2012 e-books sold in France will be cheaper due to a lower VAT rate. They will be taxed with 5.5% instead of 19.6%. This will make the France the cheapest country to sell e-books in the whole EU. It might be interesting for e-publishing companies to consider to relocate their e-book stores to France to benefit from the low VAT rate for their EU wide e-book sales.
According to new article 278 bis 6° of the French Tax Code (implementation of article 98.2 of the VAT Directive EC/112/2006), the French VAT reduced rate at 5.5% is applicable to books, whatever their physical support and including books provided by electronic means. This new provision will be applicable in France to all transaction for which the tax point occurs as from 1 January 2012.
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