Latvia to Introduce 12% VAT on Food, Restrict 5% VAT on Books by Language in 2026

• Latvia will introduce a temporary 12% reduced VAT rate on essential food items from July 2026 to June 2027.
• The 12% VAT rate will apply to bread, fresh milk (excluding ultra-sterilised), fresh chilled poultry meat, and fresh poultry eggs.
• The 5% reduced VAT rate on books and press publications will be limited to specific languages starting January 2026.
• Eligible languages for the 5% VAT rate include Latvian, Latgalian, Livonian, and official languages of certain international organizations and countries.
• These VAT changes aim to address rising food prices, promote Latvian language policy, and enhance national security.

Source: marosavat.com

Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.

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