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Art galleries place cultural VAT among the priorities of the new government
The upcoming general election on November 29th has once again brought the country's main political, economic, and social challenges to the forefront. Housing, migration, and employment dominate much of the electoral debate, while culture continues to occupy a secondary place in party platforms. In this context, contemporary art galleries are reiterating one of their long-standing demands: a reduction in the VAT applied to the sale of artworks.
The Consortium of Contemporary Art Galleries has presented the incoming government with a series of demands, urging them to make progress on an issue the sector considers unresolved during the next legislative session. The organization is calling on political parties to include in their electoral platforms a commitment to abandon inaction and adopt the necessary measures to reduce the cultural VAT.
Spain currently maintains a 21% tax rate on art sales, a rate that contrasts sharply with those applied in other European countries, such as France, where the rate is 5.5%, and Germany, at 7%. According to Spanish gallery owners, this difference constitutes a competitive disadvantage that the sector has endured for years without any solution being offered by the various administrations.
The Consortium believes that the lack of progress cannot continue for another legislative term and is demanding that political parties explicitly include this issue in their electoral platforms. Their request calls for the application of European Directive 2022/542, which allows for reduced rates on the sale of works of art, with a commitment to its implementation during the next legislative term.
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