The Minister of Culture Supports Increasing VAT on Russian Books, Newspapers, and Magazines 0 32

The fight against the Russian language has now reached literature and periodicals. The Ministry of Culture, signed by its head Agnese Lāce, has prepared amendments to the Income Tax Law, according to which, starting from January 1, 2026, the reduced VAT rate of 5% will no longer de facto apply to books, newspapers, and magazines published in Russian when sold at retail or delivered to subscribers. This means that starting from January 1, the VAT on Russian literature and periodicals will be 21 percent! The same rate will also apply to paid publications in Russian and paid subscriptions to Russian publications in electronic media!

It is quite ironic that the Ministry of Culture is imposing such "sanctions" on literature and periodicals published in Latvia (!) in the native language of one-third of the population.

The draft law is included in the agenda of the upcoming Cabinet of Ministers meeting and will surely be approved by the government, after which it will be submitted to the Saeima.