Legislator José Ramírez, from Frente Amplio, proposed having books exempt from the import tax payment.
Ramírez explained that in Costa Rica books are exempt from sales tax, but the import tribute levies 1% of the value of each book.
We believe that exonerating books from the import tax will open a window of opportunity to promote cheaper imports and thus the decrease in the value of sales in national territory. Therefore, we think this is the right direction to reverse the low reading rates that our country has at this moment,”
said the legislator.
Ramirez said that, based on the 2013 Latin American survey of cultural habits and practices, Costa Ricans read less than in the rest of Central America.