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Why Booker shortlist is more taxing for some readers | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
If you want to plough through the Booker Prize shortlist before the winner is announced on 14 October, the pile of books in hardback will cost you just under £90. | If you want to plough through the Booker Prize shortlist before the winner is announced on 14 October, the pile of books in hardback will cost you just under £90. |
But if you are blind or partially sighted and rely on audiobooks, you will pay around 50% more, in part due to the sales tax levied. | But if you are blind or partially sighted and rely on audiobooks, you will pay around 50% more, in part due to the sales tax levied. |
Publishers are calling for VAT on audiobooks and e-books to be axed. | Publishers are calling for VAT on audiobooks and e-books to be axed. |
They say it unfairly penalises those who struggle to read traditional books. | They say it unfairly penalises those who struggle to read traditional books. |
"It has been a long-standing principle that governments won't seek to tax and provide a barrier to books, education and knowledge," says Stephen Lotinga, chief executive of the Publishers Association. | "It has been a long-standing principle that governments won't seek to tax and provide a barrier to books, education and knowledge," says Stephen Lotinga, chief executive of the Publishers Association. |
A consumption tax of 20%, or Value Added Tax, is levied on all goods sold in the UK unless they are exempt, as are children's clothes, most food, and traditional, printed books. | A consumption tax of 20%, or Value Added Tax, is levied on all goods sold in the UK unless they are exempt, as are children's clothes, most food, and traditional, printed books. |
So while the higher price of audiobooks is partly down to the cost of hiring actors and studios to record them, they could be more affordable if they too were exempt. | So while the higher price of audiobooks is partly down to the cost of hiring actors and studios to record them, they could be more affordable if they too were exempt. |
Publishers are pushing for audiobooks and e-books to be treated the same way as printed books and hope that Chancellor Sajid Javid will make the change in this autumn's Budget. | Publishers are pushing for audiobooks and e-books to be treated the same way as printed books and hope that Chancellor Sajid Javid will make the change in this autumn's Budget. |
Forty-two senior figures from the UK's publishing industry have signed a letter urging him to make the change. | Forty-two senior figures from the UK's publishing industry have signed a letter urging him to make the change. |
In 2018, the UK publishing industry generated £3.6bn in total book sales, £2.9bn of which was from physical book sales and £653m from digital, according to the Publishers Association. | In 2018, the UK publishing industry generated £3.6bn in total book sales, £2.9bn of which was from physical book sales and £653m from digital, according to the Publishers Association. |
At 88, Mary Bish still enjoys reading but suffers from macular degeneration and struggles to get to a bookshop or library due to mobility issues. | At 88, Mary Bish still enjoys reading but suffers from macular degeneration and struggles to get to a bookshop or library due to mobility issues. |
She says being able to get books on her tablet and enlarge the text is "absolutely brilliant". | She says being able to get books on her tablet and enlarge the text is "absolutely brilliant". |
But she feels discriminated against when it comes to the price. | But she feels discriminated against when it comes to the price. |
"It is unfair we should be taxed while people who read ordinary print books are not taxed," she says. | "It is unfair we should be taxed while people who read ordinary print books are not taxed," she says. |
"There are about two million people in the UK who are classified as visually impaired," says Mr Lotinga. | "There are about two million people in the UK who are classified as visually impaired," says Mr Lotinga. |
"Obviously being able to listen to books or being able to manipulate the size of the text easily on a screen is hugely important to people who struggle to read. | "Obviously being able to listen to books or being able to manipulate the size of the text easily on a screen is hugely important to people who struggle to read. |
"We want to make sure they're not penalised on the basis of their disability." | "We want to make sure they're not penalised on the basis of their disability." |
It is not only the partially sighted who would benefit, however, he argues. | It is not only the partially sighted who would benefit, however, he argues. |
The National Literacy Trust says one in eight disadvantaged children in the UK do not own any books. | The National Literacy Trust says one in eight disadvantaged children in the UK do not own any books. |
Mr Lotinga says if books are available at low cost in digital formats, low-income families are much more likely to access them via their phones or tablets. | Mr Lotinga says if books are available at low cost in digital formats, low-income families are much more likely to access them via their phones or tablets. |
More than 100 MPs and several authors - including Stephen Fry, Helen Fields, Joanne Harris and Paula Hawkins - have expressed support for the campaign. | More than 100 MPs and several authors - including Stephen Fry, Helen Fields, Joanne Harris and Paula Hawkins - have expressed support for the campaign. |