Pablo Motos and Sonsoles Ónega apologize after mistakenly stating that books have 21% VAT: “No one checked the data”

Pablo Motos and Sonsoles Ónega apologized on their respective programs this Wednesday for an incorrect fact. On Tuesday, during the interview with the journalist and writer on El hormiguero, they stated that the VAT on books was 21%, and both called for it to be reduced, or even eliminated, to facilitate access to reading. However, since 1992, physical books have been subject to reduced VAT, 4%, the same rate that electronic books have had since 2020.

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“I want to apologize because yesterday we gave incorrect information,” Motos began at the start of Antena 3’s prime-time show. As he explained, the host brought up the topic at the request of the interviewee herself, who was on the show to present her new novel, Llevará tu nombre. “She suggested to the team to talk about the VAT on books because she thought 21% was excessive. We said yes and no one checked the fact, which is a mistake. It turns out that the VAT on books is 4%. We are always rigorous, but yesterday we messed up, I apologize and I guarantee it won’t happen again,” he said standing in the center of the set before introducing that night’s guest on the program.

Hours earlier, on Y ahora, Sonsoles, it was the 2023 Planeta Prize winner herself who publicly apologized. “Yesterday we made a mistake on El hormiguero regarding the VAT on books, which is not 21%, but 4%. Mistake, mistake, mistake, I punish myself,” said the host. “I have been distressed all day for not having confirmed the fact,” she continued, confirming that the responsibility for the error was hers. “I take this opportunity to apologize for the error, absolutely unintentional, with no intention to misinform or manipulate or anything,” she added.

Throughout Wednesday, social media was filled with comments reproaching the two hosts for the error. The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, ironically tweeted on X: “I have always admired the versatility of television hosts. They have time and talent to host shows and write high-quality novels. But it seems they don’t have time to inform themselves beforehand about what they talk about.” The message from El hormiguero that included that moment of the program has thousands of responses and a “community note” explaining that the VAT on books, both physical and digital, is 4%.

In the question that sparked the controversy, Pablo Motos stated that while the VAT on cinema was reduced to 10%, “the VAT on books remains 21%, the same as a pack of Ducados. Is 21% VAT on a book understandable?” A point with which Sonsoles Ónega agreed and proposed “campaigning to reduce the VAT on books.” “It’s money,” said the writer. “I want people to buy many books. One idea could be to lower the VAT on books a bit,” she insisted.

“If you want a cultured country that reads, give it some ease. It would be very welcomed,” Pablo Motos added after even suggesting that literature be exempt from VAT. Then, they mentioned the Prime Minister, hoping the message would reach him.

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