Axe the Reading Tax

New research from the National Literacy Trust finds listening to audiobooks has significant benefits for childhood literacy, but those who need or prefer to read on this format are still taxed 20% more.

The research reveals audiobooks help children to understand the content of a book and get them more interested in reading across all formats.

Call on your MP to make reading truly accessible to all and to Axe the Reading Tax on audiobooks at axethereadingtax.org/get-involved.

Read the National Literacy Trust's new study at Literacytrust.org.uk/audiobooks-report

Children, young people and audiobooks before and during lockdown | National Literacy Trust This report outlines findings from our tenth Annual Literacy Survey relating to children and young people’s engagement with audiobooks in 2020, alongside findings from our survey of children and young people's use of audiobooks during lockdown.

We are delighted that the Chancellor will remove the unfair 20% tax on epublications. However, it is disappointing to see that this tax will still apply to audiobooks and the campaign is currently seeking clarification from HM Treasury about this

We are thrilled that VAT will be removed from e-publications following the new Budget. This will mark an end to illogically taxing people who need or prefer to read digitally. Thank you so much to all the authors, organisations, parliamentarians and members of the public who called on the Chancellor to remove this 20% tax that acts as a barrier to literacy and discriminates against people who struggle to use or handle printed books.

Today's Budget from HM Treasury will be the first opportunity the UK Government has had to remove the unfair 20% tax on digital publications since the EU law change in December 2018. We are calling on Rishi Sunak to recognise the value of reading and learning to all and remove this unfair tax that hurts people who struggle to read or handle printed books and acts as a barrier to literacy

Thank you so much to all the parliamentarians who attended the Axe the Reading Tax campaign's event in Parliament to call on the Government to remove the 20% tax on digital publications.

Thank you so much to Rob Roberts MP for Delyn for delivering this letter to the Chancellor in support of the campaign to Axe the Reading Tax on digital publications. Thank you so much to Julian Knight MP, Jamie Stone, Brendan Clarke-Smith MP for Bassetlaw, Dr James Davies, Tom Tugendhat, Rosie Cooper MP, Gary Sambrook MP, Antony Higginbotham MP, Gordon Henderson MP, Neil Coyle MP, Aaron Bell MP, Ruth Jones for Newport West, Sir David Amess MP, Sally-Ann Hart MP, Sarah Atherton 4 Wrexham, Marco Longhi MP, Mark Fletcher MP and Jane Hunt MP for signing! We are so grateful for all your support.

Delighted to have the support of the Scottish National Party and their spokesperson for Disabilities Marion Fellows MP.

About | Axe the Reading Tax Axe the Reading Tax is a campaign spearheaded by the Publishers Association who represents book and journal publishers in the UK.

Did you know that the Government has never taxed printed books to protect access to learning but adds a 20% tax on eBooks and audiobooks. This makes no sense. It is time to Axe the Reading Tax on digital books. Click the link to write to your MP and call on them to end this unfair tax at www.axethereadingtax.org/get-involved

Backers of the Axe the Reading Tax Campaign have called on political parties to commit to removing the unfair 20% tax on eBooks and audiobooks in the General Election. Read the call to action from RNIB, The Publishers Association, Association of Authors Agents, BookTrust, National Literacy Trust , Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS), Listening Books and The Society of Authors below

Thank you so much to every parliamentarian who attended our event in celebration of International Literacy Day and signed our letter to the Chancellor calling on the Government to end the unfair 20% tax on digital publications.

Today, former Blue Peter presenter and author Konnie Huq headed to Downing Street to join almost 100 parliamentarians in calling for an end to the unfair 20% tax on eBooks with representatives of the The Publishers Association National Literacy Trust, RNIB and parliamentary champions Robert Halfon MP and Andrew Lewer MP. Join the campaign and call on your MP to Axe the Reading Tax at www.axethereadingtax.org/get-involved