Parliament approved yesterday, November 20th, a measure within the scope of the discussion on the specificity of the State Budget proposal that provides that part of the VAT on the purchase of books and entry tickets to cultural shows can be deducted from the IRS in 2026.
The Portuguese Association of Publishers and Booksellers (APEL), in a statement, welcomes this Friday the approval by the Assembly of the Republic of this measure.
“This decision meets a recurring demand from APEL, which for several years has defended a more favorable book tax framework, including the possibility of zero VAT. Although this target is not yet achieved, the possibility of deducting 15% of VAT is a step in the right direction”says APEL in a statement.
The association led by Miguel Pauseiro considers that it is a measure that “can contribute to increasing reading rates, by reducing families’ financial effort, making books more accessible, especially for those who feel this burden most on their family budget.”
“The decision taken today recognizes, in a concrete way, that reading is an investment in the future of the country. By easing the tax burden on those who buy books, our country is finally beginning to show concerted signs in different areas that reading is a national priority”, says Miguel Pauseirocited not communicated.
The association warns readers to always ask for an invoice with NIF so that the IRS deduction can be made next year. The State Budget still has to go to a final global vote, on November 27th.
With this measure presented by the PS and approved with the favorable votes of IL, PAN and BE, and abstention from CDS, PCP, PSD and Chega, Taxpayers can deduct 15% of the VAT paid on the purchase of books, theater tickets, concerts and dance shows, entrance fees to museums and monuments, and expenses on activities in libraries and archives from the IRS.
This is the same deduction that already exists for expenses at restaurants, hairdressers, car repair shops and veterinarians.