Excellent news for ebook sellers, “Plans to scrap VAT on e-publications fast-tracked and will come into force tomorrow”, the British Chancellor has just announced. VAT is the UK’s chunky 20% sales tax, and it had been due to be abolished in November for digital newspapers, books, magazines, and academic e-journals. The zero rate doesn’t cover audiobooks. Assuming Amazon and the big publishers don’t just trouser the 20% as extra profit, by keeping prices the same, then this should mean cheaper reading in the UK. Although The Guardian newspaper has already announced it will pocket the extra profit, and won’t reduce prices.