Reduction of VAT on art trade in Germany from 2025

This change reverses the 2014 increase, which was necessary because art sales were not eligible for reduced VAT rates under the EU VAT Directive at that time. However, with the 2022 introduction of reduced VAT rate freedoms, Germany can now apply the lower rate to various transactions.

The higher VAT rate had placed German art dealers at a disadvantage compared to those in other countries, and the art market has seen a significant downswing in the past years.