Publishers urge for relook at high GST on book printing, paper

Indie publishers and bookshops have released a statement, expressing concern over the high goods and services tax (GST) on book printing—ranging up to 18% on printing and 12% on paper—, which they say is affecting the book culture and affordability of books .

The statement signed by a host of leading publishers says the high rate of GST is placing a severe financial strain on the publishing industry, thereby also affecting the affordability and accessibility of books for readers across India.

They urged the government to have a relook at the GST on book printing and paper, which is not only necessary but also beneficial for the long-term growth of the nation.

Here, we reproduce the entire statement issued by the publishers and bookshops.

An Urgent Appeal from India’s Indie Publishers and Booksellers: Lift the GST Burden Threatening Our Book Culture

Books are the cornerstone of education, knowledge dissemination, and cultural development. They serve as a vehicle for learning, critical thinking, and social progress. However, the high Goods and Services Tax (GST) on book printing—ranging up to 18% on printing and 12% on paper—is placing a severe financial strain on the publishing industry, thereby also affecting the affordability and accessibility of books for readers across India. This is especially true of small-to-medium, Indian language and micro book publishers. Reducing or entirely doing away with GST on book printing and paper is not only necessary but also beneficial for the long-term growth of the nation.

• Books themselves are exempt from GST, but printing services are taxed at 18%. This means publishers must pay 18% GST when they outsource printing. Most, if not all, small and medium and indie publishers outsource their printing
• Higher costs for publishers, especially small presses, academic presses, and educational institutions. Readers have been complaining about the recent spurt in book prices, of which this is a major reason. We, individually and as a group, are in the field out of commitment to give India the knowledge the country and her people so badly need.
• Knowledge is a Public Good. Education, literacy, and cultural dissemination depend on affordable printing. Taxing printing like a “luxury service” contradicts the Constitutional push for education and access to knowledge
• Many countries (UK, most of the EU) have zero or very low VAT/GST on both books and printing, treating them as essential goods. India’s 18% slab looks punitive by comparison.
• Policy contradiction: On one hand, the government promotes campaigns like Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat (Read India, Grow India). On the other, taxing printing at 18% discourages production of exactly the materials that fuel reading. Taxing printing like it was a luxury service raises the cost of all kinds of books — textbooks, educational material, and cultural publishing. By ‘educational’ and ‘cultural’ we refer to books that support formal learning, literacy and intellectual growth while also preserving, transmitting or promoting the nation’s diverse traditions, values, languages, and cultural or artistic heritage. Rising book prices disproportionately affect students, teachers, and lower-income readers.
• We are in a strange situation where (i) Books printed in India that are meant for export are treated as “zero-rated supplies” under GST, which means they attract 0% GST. On the other hand, printing of books for much-needed local consumption and readers in India faces 18% GST. (ii) Imported books face a Customs duty of 5%; on the other hand, books created locally face GST of 12-18% for paper and printing services (comprising a large part of the book’s cost, for small-medium and micro publishers). This increases the cost of domestic production, and makes local books costlier for local readers.
• Educational/literary printing needs to be distinguished from commercial/packaging printing. Having no GST or a reasonable, low printing GST (at 5%) for book-related services would be in line with global practice.
• India has been a book publishing national success stories from the global South. We risk destroying its potential, both within the nation and beyond, by levying disproportionately high taxes that reduce the potential of its many interesting books to be noticed far and wide.

Recommendations:

1. Introduce a Low, Reasonable Slab for Book Printing: Tax printing of books, educational materials, and newspapers at 5% or exempt it entirely, while retaining a higher rate for luxury/packaging printing if necessary. 
2. Differentiate by End Use: Clearly classify educational, textbook and cultural printing separately from commercial printing (advertising, packaging, etc.), to prevent misuse.
3. GST on author-royalties should be done away with altogether. Levying GST on author royalties in India amounts to unfair double taxation, since such earnings are already subject to income tax in the hands of the author. By classifying royalties as a “service” rather than recognising them as creative income, the law effectively penalises knowledge production and cultural work. Unlike earnings from large commercial services, writing is often precarious, with most authors earning modest sums. The added GST burden on royalties either reduces their earnings further or discourages publishers from entering into fair contracts. Far from broadening the tax base, this policy undermines India’s cultural economy by taxing its weakest link—the creator—while offering little real revenue gain to the exchequer.
4. GST on eBooks and audiobooks needs to go too, especially as there is a “digital push” with the National Education Policy (NEP) and National Curriculum Framework (NCF). eBooks and audiobooks are slowly but surely making their way into the classroom. Such products need all encouragement at this point of time to take care of India’s multifarious developmental, literacy and life-long-learnings concerns.

SOME BACKGROUND TO THE ISSUE

1. Impact of High GST on the Publishing Industry 

The current GST structure imposes a substantial financial burden on publishers and printers, leading to higher production costs. These costs are inevitably passed on to consumers, making books less affordable, especially for students, researchers, and general readers. The following issues have arisen due to high GST rates on book printing:

• Increased costs for publishers, particularly small and independent ones
• Increased costs for publishers, particularly small and independent ones
• Reduced margins for bookstores, leading to their decline and even closure.
• Lower incentives for authors and academics to publish research and literature.

2. Recent Cut in Concessional Rates for Posting Books

The government’s recent withdrawal of concessional postal rates for books has dealt a blow to affordable knowledge dissemination. Earlier, the ‘Printed Matter—Printed Books Only’ open packet scheme allowed publishers to send books across India at highly concessional rates, making it possible for even small ‘presses’ to reach distant readers. Its removal, coupled with the merger of Registered Post into the more expensive Speed Post service—which charges by distance—has sharply raised distribution costs. To make matters worse, the newly introduced ‘Gyan Post’ scheme is being narrowly interpreted by post offices as applicable only to textbooks, excluding the vast range of general, academic, and cultural publications that sustain India’s reading public. On top of this, GST on postal services effectively double-taxes book distribution, since publishers are already paying for a government-owned service. These measures together drastically curtail the reach of books, especially in rural and underserved areas where bookstores are scarce and postal delivery is often the only access point. At a time when India urgently needs wider dissemination of knowledge to strengthen its social and economic development, policies that raise the cost of books are counterproductive. Books should be fully exempt from GST on postal services, and concessional distribution channels must be restored to protect the future of India’s publishing and reading culture.

3. International Comparison: Books Are Taxed Less Elsewhere

Several countries recognize the value of books in fostering education and intellectual growth and have kept taxes on books and book printing minimal:

• United Kingdom: Books, newspapers, and magazines are zero-rated under VAT, and printing is taxed at 0%.
• Canada: Books are GST-exempt, and printing is taxed at 5%.
• European Union: Most EU nations have reduced VAT rates for books; for example, France charges just 5.5% VAT on books, with a reduced tax on printing.
• Norway: Books are VAT-exempt, and printing services are taxed at zero or minimal rates.
• Singapore: Applies zero GST to books, with low tax rates on printing

In developing countries:

• China: Books are exempt from VAT, and printing is taxed at 6%
• Brazil: Books are tax-free, and printing is taxed at 0% to 5%.
• Russia: Books have a 10% VAT, with a lower tax rate on educational and children’s books, while printing services attract a 10% tax.
• South Africa: Books have a zero VAT rate, while printing services attract a 15% VAT.

By contrast, India’s tax regime on book printing (up to 18%) makes books more expensive than necessary, limiting accessibility and harming the nation’s education sector. If knowledge is to be made more widely available, India must follow the example of other knowledge-driven economies.

4. Books as a Public Good: Why Taxing Them Heavily Is Counterproductive

Books play a fundamental role in nation-building, economic advancement, and social cohesion. Over-taxing their production contradicts the government’s objectives of literacy promotion, skill development, and digital empowerment. Reducing GST on book printing would have several positive impacts:

• Encourage wider reading habits across socio-economic groups. 
• Make education more affordable for students and researchers. 
• Boost India’s publishing sector, creating more jobs and revenue. 
• Support bookstores and libraries in sustaining their role as community knowledge centers.

5. Policy Recommendation: A Pragmatic Approach to GST Reduction

• To ensure the growth of India’s publishing industry and improve access to knowledge, the government should consider the following policy changes: 
• Reduce GST on book printing to 5% or lower to 0%, making books more affordable. 
• Reinstate concessional postal rates for book distribution to facilitate widespread access, especially in remote regions. 
• Zero-rate educational and academic publications, similar to global best practices.

Conclusion: A knowledge-based society is the foundation of a strong economy. Over-taxing books hampers literacy, curtails intellectual engagement and limits access to knowledge. A reduction in GST on book printing, coupled with the reinstatement of concessional postal rates, would provide an essential boost to India’s publishing industry and ensure that books remain an affordable resource for all. If India aims to become a global leader in education, innovation and economic growth, it must recognise books as a public good and ensure their affordability through a fair, enlightened tax policy.

SIGNED BY

A&A Books, Gurugram – Arvind Kumar (Partner)

Aakruti Pustaka, Bengaluru – Guruprasad D N (Proprietor)

AuthorsUpFront, New Delhi – Manish Purohit (Co-Founder)

Awwa Pustaka, Bengaluru – Anupama K Benachinamardi, (Founder, Director)

Champaca Bookstore, Bengaluru – Radhika Timbadia (Founder)

CinnamonTeal Design & Publishing, Goa – Queenie R Fernandes (Co-Founder)

Copper Coin, Delhi NCR – Sarabjeet Garcha (Founder, Editorial Director)

Goa,1556, Saligão, Goa – Frederick Noronha (Publisher)

Goobe’s Book Republic, Bengaluru – Ravi Menezes (Founder)

Indulekha Books, Kottayam – Tom J Mangatt, Publisher

Kalachuvadu Publications, Nagercoil – Kannan Sundaram (MD, Editor)

Karadi Tales, Chennai – Shobha Viswanath (Publishing Director, Co-Founder)

LeftWord Books, New Delhi – Sudhanva Deshpande (Managing Editor)

Lightroom Bookstore, Bengaluru – Aashti Mudnani (Founder, Proprietor)

Mapin Publishing, Ahmedabad – Bipin Shah (Publisher)

Mehta Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., Pune – Akhil Sunil Mehta (Director)

Paperwall Publishing, Mumbai – Hemant Divate (Founder)

Permanent Black, Ranikhet – Rukun Advani (Publisher)

Pickle Yolk Books, Noida – Richa Jha (Founder, Publisher)

Popular Prakashan Pvt Ltd, Mumbai – Asmita Mohite (Marathi Editor)

Pratham Books, Bengaluru -Himanshu Giri (CEO)

Rachna Books & Publns, Gangtok – Raman S Shresta (Bookseller, Publisher)

Roli Books, New Delhi – Kapil Kapoor (Managing Director)

Ruthumana, Bengaluru – Nithesh Kuntady (Editor)

Sanjana Publications, Sanguem, Goa – Dinesh Manerkar (Publisher)

Speaking Tiger Books, New Delhi – Ravi Singh (Publisher, Co-Founder)

Stree, Samya, Kolkata – Mandira Sen (Director)

The Antonym Collections – Anuradha Das (Director-Sales)

The Dogears Bookshop, Margão, Goa – Leonard Fernandes (Co-Founder)

Tulika Books, Delhi Indu – Chandrasekhar (Publisher, Managing Editor)

Tulika Publishers, Chennai – Radhika Menon (Founder-Director)

V C Thomas Editions, Kochi – V C Thomas (Publisher, Consultant)

Vinutha Mallya, Pune – Journalist, Editor, Publishing Consultant

Westland Books – Karthika VK (Publisher)

Women Unlimited, New Delhi – Ritu Menon (Publisher)

Yoda Press, New Delhi – Arpita Das (Founder-Publisher)

Zubaan Publishers, New Delhi – Urvashi Butalia (Founder-Director)