Amazon’s monopolistic charges to e-book publishers suggest need for EU VAT reform

Salman Shaheen

October 22 2012

UK publishers are concerned that Amazon is charging them 20% VAT on e-books even though the online retailer only has to pay 3% itself. But Amazon’s monopoly means digital publishers can do little to level the playing field without wider reform.

Unlock this content.

The content you are trying to view is exclusive to our subscribers.

To unlock this content:

Take a Free Trial or Login

Topics

Salman Shaheen

Salman Shaheen worked at ITR between 2010 and 2017

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

Indirect Tax

Advisers hope Brazil and US reach agreement on Trump tariffs

The threat of 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods coincides with new Brazilian legal powers to adopt retaliatory economic measures, local experts tell ITR

Sam Sholli, July 18 2025

Direct Tax

germany berlin reichstag building german parliament bundestag - Concept piece for power, authority, economy, performance, government, planning and control.

This week in tax: Germany still ‘committed’ to pillar two despite chancellor’s condemnation

The country’s chancellor appears to have backtracked from previous pillar two scepticism; in other news, Donald Trump threatened Russia with 100% tariffs

Tom Baker, July 18 2025

Direct Tax

OECD unveils pillar two safe harbour for highly taxed MNEs

In its latest G20 update, the OECD also revealed tense discussions with the US where the ‘significant threat’ of Section 899 was highlighted

Tom Baker, July 17 2025

Direct Tax

Too many HMRC compliance investigations last too long, committee warns

The tax agency has increased compliance yield from wealthy individuals but cannot identify how much tax is paid by UK billionaires, the committee also claimed

Sam Sholli, July 17 2025

Transfer Pricing

UK TP proposals could ‘double compliance costs’, tax firm warns

Saffery cautioned that documentation requirements in new government proposals must be limited if medium-sized companies are not exempted from TP

Tom Baker, July 16 2025

Direct Tax

Pillar two no longer has a future, German chancellor claims

The global minimum tax deal is not viable without US participation, Friedrich Merz has argued

Sam Sholli, July 16 2025

Direct Tax

Pillar two is revising global tax competition with a 15% minimum tax rate

Future of pillar two uncertain after Section 899 withdrawal averts ‘catastrophe’

Section 899 of the ‘one big beautiful’ bill would have spelled disaster for many international investors into the US, but following its shelving, attention turns to the fate of the OECD’s pillars

Ralph Cunningham, July 16 2025

Direct Tax

‘Pro bono is a must’: Amory Heine on giving back

DLA Piper’s co-head of tax for the US and Latin America tells ITR about her fervent belief in equal access to the law, loving yoga, and paternal inspirations

July 15 2025

Direct Tax