Lower VAT on school IT equipment for a better digitisation

Belgium recently dropped to 16th place in the most recent European digitisation ranking. Mathieu Michel, the Federal State Secretary for Digitisation, ​ wants to improve the position of Belgium by investing in the equipment for the youngest of our society. He has requested that the cost of digitisation not be borne solely by parents and calles for a 6% VAT reduction on IT equipment purchased by schools.

According to a recent Family League report, the cost of school supplies is becoming prohibitively expensive for children and their families.

So much so that the French-language charity 'Restos du Cœur' has launched an online donation platform to assist them in purchasing school supplies for those in need.

According to the League's research, computers are one of the most expensive school supplies. As a result, it is difficult for a parent to send their child to school without providing them with the same equipment as their peers.

The Liberal minister has thus proposed lowering the VAT on the purchase of pedagogical IT material by schools from 10% to 6%, which would apply to both hardware and software.

© BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT - State Secretary for Digital Agenda and Privacy Mathieu Michel and Minister of Agriculture and SME's David Clarinval pictured during the lunch at Fritkot Bevers, during 'Feest in het Park - Fete au Parc, at the Warandepark - Parc de Bruxelles, on the Belgian National Day, in Brussels, Thursday 21 July 2022.