Increase in Value Added Tax on Electronic Newspapers, Magazines, Books

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The Presidential Decree Introducing Amendments to the Decree on Determination of Rates of Value Added Tax to be Imposed on Goods and Services was published on the Official Gazette today (December 19).

According to the decree of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the rate of value added tax imposed on e-newspapers and e-magazines has been increased from its former level of 1 percent to 18 percent. The rate of value added tax on e-books, which was previously 8 percent, has also been increased to 18 percent.

The decree will enter into force as of January 1, 2019.

With the recent increase in the use of tablet and electronic readers around the world, the sale of digital publications has also rapidly increased.

The depreciation of the Turkish Lira against foreign currencies, especially against the US Dollar, as well as the increases in paper prices, and thus, in prices of books and magazines have led many readers in Turkey to prefer electronic publications over the printed ones.

Main opposition party Republican People's Party (CHP) Tekirdağ MP Özcan Aygun previously made a statement and announced that almost 300 local newspapers and printing houses have been closed over the last months as a result of increasing paper prices. (OI/EKN/SD)