– We go now to the EEA Surveillance Authority with a proposal zero rate of VAT on all user fees of news and current affairs, irrespective of where they are published says Widwey VG.
Printed newspapers have been exempt from VAT since 1970, but when the media publish news online, they need to collect 25 per cent VAT of user payment.
This exemption allows state loses tax revenue equivalent to 1.5 billion a year. The media have argued that the state will not lose additional VAT revenue if digitally sale of news is VAT-free, because newspaper circulation falls in line with increased Internet use of news.
– The media are in the midst of tough competition from abroad, and the government wants to help them in this transition. Now we are facilitating that zero VAT will be the norm for all news reporting, regardless of how the news published – online, TV or radio, said Minister of Culture.
Editor Torry Pedersen VG says to his own newspaper this is a very good news for Norwegian journalism.
– This creates appropriate conditions for journalism, irrespective of how the news is published. It’s a crucial change in the tax system at a time of major changes in the media landscape, he said.
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