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Taxation: Commission presents options for simpler and more robust future VAT regime

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shutterstock_182908907Ideas on how to ensure a simpler, more effective and more fraud-proof VAT system tailored to the Single Market in the EU have been outlined in a paper published by the Commission today (30 October). The aim is to create a definitive VAT regime, to replace the temporary and out-dated VAT system, which has been in place in the EU for more than two decades. The future VAT regime should better meet the needs of businesses in the Single Market and be less susceptible to fraud than today’s system is. The Commission services document, which follows extensive consultations with Member States and stakeholders, sets out five options for shaping the future VAT regime.

Taxation Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta said: “Over the past few years, the Commission has pushed forward many improvements to the VAT system. We have put forward measures to make it more business-friendly, and to better protect it against fraud. However, there comes a point when it is time to buy a new car, rather than tinkering with spare parts. We need to redesign the EU VAT system from scratch, and today we have presented first ideas on how this could be done.”

When the Single Market was set up in 1992, the plan was to create a VAT system for intra-EU trade that would reflect the way goods were taxed at national level, thereby supporting the concept of a genuine borderless union. However, politically and technically, it was not possible at that time to create an EU VAT system that mirrored national tax practices (i.e. taxation at origin). Therefore, a transitional regime was established, until a permanent VAT structure, based on taxation at origin, could be agreed. This regime – which is still in place over 20 years later – exempts cross-border supplies of goods from VAT in the EU, while taxing intra-EU purchases in the member state of acquisition. However, such a system has proven to be prone to fraud and highly complicated for cross-border businesses. Therefore, developing a new definitive VAT regime, which is suited to the modern economy and favourable to intra-EU trade, is a high priority by the Commission.

Background

After much political and technical consultation, it has appeared that an origin based system is not achievable and the consensus is that any definitive regime must be based on the principle of destination i.e. VAT is due at the point of destination of the goods. However, there are many ways in which this can be designed and implemented for B2B supplies of goods. The document published today sets out what the Commission considers to be 5 feasible options. These are:

  • The supplier would be responsible for charging and paying the VAT , and supplies would be taxed according to where the goods are delivered;

  • the supplier would be responsible for charging and paying the VAT , and supplies would be taxed according to where the customer is established;

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  • the customer – rather than the supplier – would be liable for the VAT, and taxation would take place where that customer is based (Reverse Charge);

  • the customer – rather than the supplier – would be liable for the VAT, and taxation would take place where the goods are delivered, and;

  • the status quo would be maintained, with some modifications.

The document also gives a brief explanation of the options. The Commission is now undertaking an in-depth assessment to determine the impact of each of the options for businesses and for member states. On the basis of its findings, it will present the possible way forward in Spring 2015.

More information

The document is available here.  (See action n°25 under the section "Follow-up to the communication").
For more information, see our FAQ: MEMO/14/607
Homepage of Commissioner Šemeta

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