MPs reject push to scrap VAT on books

A parliamentary committee yesterday rejected the push to scrap the 16 per cent value-added tax that was imposed on textbooks three years ago. At a meeting in Nairobi's Parliament buildings yesterday, members of the Finance, Planning and Trade Committee said there was no guarantee that if the tax was scrapped more people will read or that more books will be published.

"The publishers do not want books to be exempted. No publisher will seek an exemption, because that means they will not get anything back from the taxes they pay on paper and ink. They all come saying they want books zero-rated so that they can claim tax refunds on input. But that's not the direction we want to go," said Gaichuhie.
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