Denmark is eliminated by the oldest tax in history. Will also lower the tribute from books to zero

The government of Denmark announced the liquidation of 25 % VAT on books. From 2026, ancient chocolate and coffee tax is also to stop, as well as the temporary fee for electricity consumption.

The Danish Minister of Culture expressed the hope that the zero VAT rate for books would reduce their prices and contribute to the increase in sales. -We must take radical steps to reverse the reading crisis in recent years-emphasized Jakob Engel-Schmidt in an interview with the Ritzau agency.

The last OECD PISA study showed that 24 percent Danish 15-year-olds do not have basic reading skills. According to the Danish statistical office in 2023, 8.3 million books were sold in national bookstores and online stores.

25 percent in force in Denmark VAT on books is considered the highest tribute of this kind in the world. In neighboring countries it is much smaller, in Finland it is 14 percent, and in Sweden – 6 percent. The government in Stockholm lowered this rate in 2001. This caused an increase in the volume of book sales, but the buyers were mainly existing readers.

In turn, the Minister of Economy Stephanie Lose announced the liquidation of the oldest tax in Denmark – from chocolate, some sweets and coffee. The fee introduced in the interwar period was to charge consumers of luxury goods, not to cause a health -promoting effect. – Chocolate and coffee have become products of everyday use, and the recent raw materials increases have been tested – Lose emphasized.

In Denmark, during the last year, coffee and chocolate prices have risen – by 30 and 20 percent, respectively. The organization of Dansk Erhverv entrepreneurs said that the importer of coffee beans is forced to pay a tax of 7.69 crown (approx. 1 euro) from a kilo. As estimated, the abolition of this tax will make a coffee package cost about 5 crowns less (0.67 euros).

Minister Lose pointed out that the liquidation of chocolate and coffee tax would also make life easier for producers and confectioners. Calculating tax is complicated, there are even committees of tax officials, trying organoleptically cocoa content in cakes.

Another announced relief is a significant, 95 % reduction in the tax consumption tax, which is to apply in 2026-27. – We want to strengthen the finances of the Danes – emphasized Denmark Mette Frederiksen. According to the DR Public Sender, for a family living in the villa, this means saving 4,000. Crowns (540 euros) during the year, and for a pair of pensioners – 2.7 thousand crowns (360 euros). The reform is also to promote electromobility.

Tax changes will be included in the budget for 2026, the document is to be presented on August 31.

Daniel Zyśk (PAP)

Zys/ Mal/