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Publishing - page charges

Page charges are sometimes required in order to get an article into a particular publication.  These cover some of the costs of publication and allow charges to be shared between researchers and publishers.  Support from page charges allows lower subscription process and thus a greater circulation.

Page charges are a taxable supply, reverse charge tax will be applicable on any page charges from overseas publishers.

VAT rules

An article of printed matter goes through a production process which begins with a thought in the mind of the author or designer and ends with a completed article.  If the article is to be supplied electronically all stages of production will be considered a taxable supply.

Where the article forms part of a printed matter the stages in its production can be broken down into its constituent parts and the liability of each stage considered.  When considering each stage, you should always consider what is actually happening - not how the invoice describes the process. For example, it is customary within the printing trade to itemise the various stages in the production of zero-rated printed matter. This may either take place on the invoice itself or on a backing document. However, this itemisation does not mean that separate supplies have taken place - it is merely the way that the printing trade works and is recognised as such.

For the purpose of considering the VAT regulations five stages are identified (with the HMRC VAT manual reference for each section provided in brackets); namely:-

VAT liability table for the five stages in producing printed matter

The table below outlines when the five different stages occur. It charts the production process for five common articles of printed matter, pinpoints where each of the five stages begins and ends and shows the liability consequences.

Stage

Production of a traditional book

Production of a loose-leaf book for use with a ring binder

Production of a pamphlet or brochure

Production of a leaflet

Production of a map

VAT liability

(ZR = zero-rated, SR = standard-rated)

Preliminary services

Author writes book & supplies manuscript.

Author writes book & supplies manuscript

Author writes pamphlet & supplies manuscript

Author writes subject matter of leaflet & submits to graphic designer

Area surveyed; detail shown on one sheet & colours on separate sheets

ZR if supplied as an integral part of a supply of ZR printed matter; SR in all other cases.

Preparatory work

Typeset using VDU; printed onto photographic paper; several pages at once photographically transferred onto a printing plate; sheets of several pages printed; cut, folded, collated; edges trimmed.

Typeset using VDU; printed on to photographic paper; several pages at once photographically transferred on to a printing plate; sheets of several pages printed; cut, folded, collated.

Typeset using VDU; printed on to photographic paper; several pages at once photographically transferred on to a printing plate; sheets of several pages printed; cut, folded, collated; pages wrapped together & trimmed.

Artwork & graphic design of leaflet; typeset using VDU; transferred onto film, coloured tints pasted on if necessary; several sheets at once transferred onto a printing plate; several leaflets printed on large glass.

Colours & other details combined to produce art work suitable for printing; proof copies run off for checking by customer; copies returned with any suggested alterations.

ZR if supplied by the person who has the contract to supply the completed printed matter; SR if supplied separately; may be ZR by certificate if supplied to a charity.

Production of zero rated goods

Sheets bound into a cover.

Complete set of sheets hole-punched.

Pages stapled together or saddle-stitched.

Large sheet cut into single sheets of leaflets.

Final map produced.

ZR in all circumstances.

Post-production services

Books packed for delivery.

Set of loose leaves packaged & wrapped for delivery.

Pamphlets put into envelopes.

Leaflets folded & trimmed.

 

ZR if supplied by the person who has the contract to supply the completed printed matter; SR if supplied separately.

Alterations

Paperback cover replaced by a hard cover; rebinding after wear & tear  

 

Brochure overprinted on space provided with names & addresses of particular traders.  

 

Map lined with cloth; map amended, for example to conform with latest Admiralty charts.

Always SR