BETA


2018/0164(CNS) Operation of the definitive VAT system for the taxation of trade between Member States

Progress: Awaiting final decision

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead ECON MARTUSCIELLO Fulvio (icon: PPE PPE) KOFOD Jeppe (icon: S&D S&D), ZĪLE Roberts (icon: ECR ECR), CORNILLET Thierry (icon: ALDE ALDE), CARTHY Matt (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL), SCOTT CATO Molly (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), KAPPEL Barbara (icon: ENF ENF)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
TFEU 113

Events

2019/04/16
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2019/02/12
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2019/02/12
   EP - Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 493 votes to 48, with 137 abstentions, following a special legislative procedure (consultation), a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards the introduction of the detailed technical measures for the operation of the definitive VAT system for the taxation of trade between Member States.

The European Parliament approved the Commission's proposal subject to the following amendments:

Definitive VAT system for the taxation of trade between Member States

Parliament stressed the urgent and far-reaching need to reform the VAT system in order to achieve a definitive VAT system that facilitates and simplifies intra-EU cross-border trade and to make the system more fraud-proof. The creation of a single Union VAT area is crucial in order to decrease compliance costs for businesses, particularly SMEs working cross-border, to reduce the risks of cross-border VAT fraud and to simplify VAT-related procedures.

The current initiative is based on the Member States’ preferred approach of taxation at destination, with a view to allowing Member States a certain flexibility in the setting of VAT rates.

Those new principles will enable the Member States to better fight VAT fraud, especially Missing Trader Intra-Community (MTIC), estimated to amount to at least EUR 50 billion a year.

Certified taxable persons

Members proposed strict criteria, applied in a harmonised way by all Member States, need to be put in place to determine which enterprises can benefit from the status of the certified taxable person, and common rules and provisions resulting in fines and penalties for those who do not comply with them should be established.

These criteria shall include the absence of any serious criminal offence related to the applicant's economic activity, such as, in particular: (i) money laundering; (ii) tax evasion and tax fraud; (iii) misuse of EU funds and programmes; (iv) bankruptcy or insolvency fraud; (v) bribery and/or corruption; (vi) cybercrime; (vii) participation in a criminal organisation or terrorist activities.

In order to ensure a harmonised interpretation in the granting of the certified taxable person status, the Commission shall adopt by means of an implementing act further guidance for Member States regarding the evaluation of those criteria, which shall be valid across the Union.

In addition, in order to encourage applications for the certified taxable person status, the Commission shall introduce a tailored procedure for Small and Medium Enterprises.

Where the status of certified taxable person is granted, that information shall be made available via the VAT Information Exchange System. Where the application is refused, the decision as well as the grounds for refusal shall be notified to tax authorities of other Member States.

Tax authorities of Member States having granted the status of certified taxable person shall review that decision, at least every two years, to ensure that the conditions are still met. If the taxable person has not informed the tax authorities of any factor possibly affecting the certified taxable person status as laid out in the implementing act or has purposefully concealed it, it shall be subject to proportionate, efficient and dissuasive sanctions, including the loss of the certified taxable person status.

Information portal

By 1 June 2020, the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall establish a comprehensive, multilingual and publicly accessible Union VAT Web Information Portal on which businesses and consumers can quickly and effectively obtain accurate information on VAT rates – including which goods or services benefit from reduced rates or exemptions – and all relevant information on the implementation of the definitive VAT system in the different Member States.

In complement to the Portal, an automated notification mechanism shall be set up. That mechanism shall ensure automatic notifications to tax payers on changes and updates to the VAT rates of Member States. Such automatic notifications shall be activated before the change becomes applicable and at the latest five days after the decision has been taken.

Members stressed that Member States' tax administrations must cooperate closely in a spirit of mutual trust and exchange relevant information in order to carry out their tasks.

Documents
2019/01/25
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs adopted, following a special legislative procedure (consultation of Parliament), the report by Fulvio MARTUSCIELLO (EPP, IT) on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards the introduction of the detailed technical measures for the operation of the definitive VAT system for the taxation of trade between Member States.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament approve the Commission's proposal subject to the following amendments:

Taxation in the country of destination

Members stressed that the creation of a single Union VAT area is crucial in order to decrease compliance costs for businesses, particularly SMEs working cross-border, to reduce the risks of cross-border VAT fraud and to simplify VAT-related procedures.

The principle of taxation at origin as envisaged for the definitive VAT system should be replaced by the principle of taxation in the Member State of destination. That change should contribute to the reduction of VAT-related cross-border frauds by an estimated EUR 50 billion annually.

Certified taxable persons

Members proposed strict criteria, applied in a harmonised way by all Member States, need to be put in place to determine which enterprises can benefit from the status of the certified taxable person, and common rules and provisions resulting in fines and penalties for those who do not comply with them should be established.

In order to ensure a harmonised interpretation in the granting of the certified taxable person status, the Commission shall adopt by means of an implementing act further guidance for Member States regarding the evaluation of those criteria, which shall be valid across the Union.

In addition, in order to encourage applications for the certified taxable person status, the Commission shall introduce a tailored procedure for Small and Medium Enterprises.

Where the status of certified taxable person is granted, that information shall be made available via the VAT Information Exchange System. Where the application is refused, the decision as well as the grounds for refusal shall be notified to tax authorities of other Member States.

Tax authorities of Member States having granted the status of certified taxable person shall review that decision, at least every two years, to ensure that the conditions are still met. If the taxable person has not informed the tax authorities of any factor possibly affecting the certified taxable person status as laid out in the implementing act or has purposefully concealed it, it shall be subject to proportionate, efficient and dissuasive sanctions, including the loss of the certified taxable person status.

Information portal

By 1 June 2020, the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall establish a comprehensive, multilingual and publicly accessible Union VAT Web Information Portal on which businesses and consumers can quickly and effectively obtain accurate information on VAT rates – including which goods or services benefit from reduced rates or exemptions – and all relevant information on the implementation of the definitive VAT system in the different Member States.

In complement to the Portal, an automated notification mechanism shall be set up. That mechanism shall ensure automatic notifications to tax payers on changes and updates to the VAT rates of Member States. Such automatic notifications shall be activated before the change becomes applicable and at the latest five days after the decision has been taken.

Members stressed that Member States' tax administrations must cooperate closely in a spirit of mutual trust and exchange relevant information in order to carry out their tasks.

Documents
2019/01/23
   ESC - Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report
Documents
2019/01/23
   ESC - Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report
Documents
2019/01/22
   EP - Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
2018/11/28
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2018/10/30
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2018/09/28
   ES_PARLIAMENT - Contribution
Documents
2018/09/25
   DE_BUNDESRAT - Contribution
Documents
2018/09/10
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
2018/06/22
   CSL - Debate in Council
Documents
2018/06/22
   CSL - Council Meeting
2018/06/20
   EP - MARTUSCIELLO Fulvio (PPE) appointed as rapporteur in ECON
2018/05/25
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to implement the definitive VAT system to improve the operation of VAT arrangements for cross-border B2B trade on goods within the Union.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Directive.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

BACKGROUND: the creation of a simple, modern and fraud-proof VAT system is one of the fiscal priorities set out by the Commission. In its 2016 VAT action plan , the Commission announced its intention to propose a definitive VAT system for the EU.

This proposal is part of a package of measures aimed at radically changing VAT rules by ending 25 years of a 'transitional' VAT system in the single market. This arrangement, as far as Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions on goods are concerned, split the cross-border movement of goods into two different transactions: an exempt supply in the Member State of departure of the goods and an intra-Community acquisition taxed in the Member State of destination

The proposal presented by the Commission puts an end to this artificial split of a single commercial transaction.

Besides the change to the definitive VAT system for cross-border trade, this move includes two other proposals to modify Directive 2006/112/EC (VAT Directive): one as regards VAT rates and one as regards the special scheme for small enterprises . In addition, it includes a proposal for a Council Regulation on combating fraud in the field of VAT.

As regards the change towards a definitive VAT system based on the principle of taxation in the Member State of destination a gradual two-step approach was announced: a first step settling intra-Union B2B supplies of goods and a second step covering supplies of services.

The first step was further divided into two sub-steps. The first sub-step, presented simultaneously with the Communication, was a legislative proposal which outlined the cornerstones for a simpler and fraud-proof definitive VAT system for intra-Union trade.

The current proposal represents the second sub-step. It contains the detailed arrangements to put these cornerstones in place for intra-Union B2B supplies of goods.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: a back to back impact assessment and evaluation was carried out which covered both the setting of the cornerstones of the definitive VAT system and the detailed arrangements for putting these cornerstones into place. The preferred option would reduce cross-border VAT fraud by up to EUR 41 billion per annum and reduce compliance costs for businesses by EUR 938 million per annum.

The Regulatory Scrutiny Board gave a positive opinion to the impact assessment with some recommendations, in particular on the link of the proposal to other elements of the VAT Action Plan, the need for a staged approach and the concept of certified taxable person, that have been taken on board.

CONTENT: this proposal amends the VAT Directive as regards the introduction of detailed technical measures for the operation of the definitive VAT system for the taxation of trade between Member States. It is intended to replace the transitional arrangements applicable since 1 January 1993 by a definitive VAT system for intra-Union B2B trade under which domestic and cross-border transactions involving goods will be treated in the same way.

The main elements of the proposal are as follows:

Simplifying how goods are taxed : in the current VAT system, trade in goods between businesses is split into two transactions: a VAT-exempt sale in the Member State of origin and a taxed acquisition in the Member State of destination.

It is proposed that cross-border B2B supplies of goods within the Union should be combined into a single type of transaction for VAT purposes: an intra-Union supply of goods. A definition of the concept of intra-Union supply of goods is integrated.

Place of supply rules : the combination of the definition of intra-Union supplies of goods and the new proposed place of supply rule ensures the taxation of cross-border B2B supply of goods in the Union in the Member State of destination.

Chargeability of the tax : an amendment is proposed that determines a single rule for the chargeability of VAT on intra-Union supplies. According to this rule VAT shall become chargeable on issue of the invoice, or on expiry of the time limit if no invoice has been issued by that time (fifteenth day of the month following that in which the chargeable event occurs).

Person liable for payment of VAT : the principle remains that VAT shall be payable by any taxable person carrying out a taxable supply of goods or services, unless in other provisions, it is stipulated that VAT is payable by another person.

As an exception, a new Article is proposed according to which VAT shall be payable by the person to whom the goods are supplied insofar he is a certified taxable person if the goods are supplied by a taxable person not established within the territory of the Member State in which the VAT is due.

As regards intra-Union supplies of goods , the supplier shall, in principle, be liable for the payment of the VAT in the Member State of arrival of the goods except where the supplier is not established in the Member State of taxation and the customer is a certified taxable person. In the latter case, the customer will pay the VAT due by way of reverse charge in the Member State of arrival of the goods.

Identification : an amendment is proposed according to which Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that a non-taxable legal person who is the recipient of an intra-Union supply is identified by means of an individual number.

Reduced administrative formalities : the changes reboot the self-policing character of VAT and will reduce the amount of administrative steps that need to be taken by businesses when they sell to other companies in other Member States

Intra-Union supplies of goods should under the proposed system no longer be included in the recapitulative statements. The principle of VAT being charged by the supplier on the intraUnion supply re-installs the self-policing character of VAT. Consequently, ensuring an administrative follow-up to the physical flow of goods through the recapitulative statement within the Union is no longer justified.

Single online portal : in order to make the change to VAT rules as seamless as possible for businesses, the proposed amendments would introduce the necessary provisions to put in place an online portal or 'One Stop Shop' for all business-to-business (B2B) EU traders to sort out their VAT. This system will also be available to companies outside the EU who want to sell to other businesses within the Union and who would otherwise have to register for VAT in every Member State. Once in force, these businesses will simply have to appoint one intermediary in the EU to take care of VAT for them.

Documents

Documents

  • Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2019)354
  • Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
  • Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T8-0074/2019
  • Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A8-0028/2019
  • Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report: CES2779/2018
  • Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report: CES3429/2018
  • Amendments tabled in committee: PE630.755
  • Committee draft report: PE629.628
  • Contribution: COM(2018)0329
  • Contribution: COM(2018)0329
  • Debate in Council: 3626
  • Legislative proposal published: COM(2018)0329
  • Committee draft report: PE629.628
  • Amendments tabled in committee: PE630.755
  • Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report: CES2779/2018
  • Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report: CES3429/2018
  • Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2019)354
  • Contribution: COM(2018)0329
  • Contribution: COM(2018)0329

Votes

A8-0028/2019 - Fulvio Martusciello - Proposition de la Commission #

2019/02/12 Outcome: +: 493, 0: 137, -: 48
DE ES FR IT RO PL HU PT BG NL AT CZ BE SE SK FI HR LT LV SI LU DK IE GB EE EL CY ?? MT
Total
90
50
70
63
27
49
17
19
15
25
17
20
18
16
12
12
10
10
8
8
6
13
9
64
3
15
1
3
6
icon: PPE PPE
202

Luxembourg PPE

3

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

United Kingdom PPE

Abstain (1)

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Greece PPE

1
icon: S&D S&D
167

Netherlands S&D

3

Czechia S&D

3
4

Croatia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3
icon: ALDE ALDE
64

Romania ALDE

2

Portugal ALDE

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Croatia ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
46

Italy Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
46

Italy GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

For (1)

4

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Czechia GUE/NGL

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

3

Sweden GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

3

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
63

Germany ECR

For (1)

3

Romania ECR

For (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Belgium ECR

3

Slovakia ECR

For (1)

3

Finland ECR

Against (1)

2

Croatia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
18

Germany NI

Abstain (1)

2

France NI

2

Poland NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

3

Hungary NI

2

Denmark NI

1

United Kingdom NI

3

NI

Abstain (1)

1
icon: ENF ENF
33

Germany ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Poland ENF

2

Netherlands ENF

3

Austria ENF

3

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom ENF

4
icon: EFDD EFDD
37

Germany EFDD

Abstain (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Lithuania EFDD

Abstain (1)

1

EFDD

2
AmendmentsDossier
56 2018/0164(CNS)
2018/11/28 ECON 56 amendments...
source: 630.755

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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  • date: 2018-11-28T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE630.755 title: PE630.755 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
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  • date: 2018-09-28T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.connefof.europarl.europa.eu/connefof/app/exp/COM(2018)0329 title: COM(2018)0329 type: Contribution body: ES_PARLIAMENT
  • date: 2018-09-25T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.connefof.europarl.europa.eu/connefof/app/exp/COM(2018)0329 title: COM(2018)0329 type: Contribution body: DE_BUNDESRAT
events
  • date: 2018-05-25T00:00:00 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2018/0329/COM_COM(2018)0329_EN.pdf title: COM(2018)0329 summary: PURPOSE: to implement the definitive VAT system to improve the operation of VAT arrangements for cross-border B2B trade on goods within the Union. PROPOSED ACT: Council Directive. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion. BACKGROUND: the creation of a simple, modern and fraud-proof VAT system is one of the fiscal priorities set out by the Commission. In its 2016 VAT action plan , the Commission announced its intention to propose a definitive VAT system for the EU. This proposal is part of a package of measures aimed at radically changing VAT rules by ending 25 years of a 'transitional' VAT system in the single market. This arrangement, as far as Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions on goods are concerned, split the cross-border movement of goods into two different transactions: an exempt supply in the Member State of departure of the goods and an intra-Community acquisition taxed in the Member State of destination The proposal presented by the Commission puts an end to this artificial split of a single commercial transaction. Besides the change to the definitive VAT system for cross-border trade, this move includes two other proposals to modify Directive 2006/112/EC (VAT Directive): one as regards VAT rates and one as regards the special scheme for small enterprises . In addition, it includes a proposal for a Council Regulation on combating fraud in the field of VAT. As regards the change towards a definitive VAT system based on the principle of taxation in the Member State of destination a gradual two-step approach was announced: a first step settling intra-Union B2B supplies of goods and a second step covering supplies of services. The first step was further divided into two sub-steps. The first sub-step, presented simultaneously with the Communication, was a legislative proposal which outlined the cornerstones for a simpler and fraud-proof definitive VAT system for intra-Union trade. The current proposal represents the second sub-step. It contains the detailed arrangements to put these cornerstones in place for intra-Union B2B supplies of goods. IMPACT ASSESSMENT: a back to back impact assessment and evaluation was carried out which covered both the setting of the cornerstones of the definitive VAT system and the detailed arrangements for putting these cornerstones into place. The preferred option would reduce cross-border VAT fraud by up to EUR 41 billion per annum and reduce compliance costs for businesses by EUR 938 million per annum. The Regulatory Scrutiny Board gave a positive opinion to the impact assessment with some recommendations, in particular on the link of the proposal to other elements of the VAT Action Plan, the need for a staged approach and the concept of certified taxable person, that have been taken on board. CONTENT: this proposal amends the VAT Directive as regards the introduction of detailed technical measures for the operation of the definitive VAT system for the taxation of trade between Member States. It is intended to replace the transitional arrangements applicable since 1 January 1993 by a definitive VAT system for intra-Union B2B trade under which domestic and cross-border transactions involving goods will be treated in the same way. The main elements of the proposal are as follows: Simplifying how goods are taxed : in the current VAT system, trade in goods between businesses is split into two transactions: a VAT-exempt sale in the Member State of origin and a taxed acquisition in the Member State of destination. It is proposed that cross-border B2B supplies of goods within the Union should be combined into a single type of transaction for VAT purposes: an intra-Union supply of goods. A definition of the concept of intra-Union supply of goods is integrated. Place of supply rules : the combination of the definition of intra-Union supplies of goods and the new proposed place of supply rule ensures the taxation of cross-border B2B supply of goods in the Union in the Member State of destination. Chargeability of the tax : an amendment is proposed that determines a single rule for the chargeability of VAT on intra-Union supplies. According to this rule VAT shall become chargeable on issue of the invoice, or on expiry of the time limit if no invoice has been issued by that time (fifteenth day of the month following that in which the chargeable event occurs). Person liable for payment of VAT : the principle remains that VAT shall be payable by any taxable person carrying out a taxable supply of goods or services, unless in other provisions, it is stipulated that VAT is payable by another person. As an exception, a new Article is proposed according to which VAT shall be payable by the person to whom the goods are supplied insofar he is a certified taxable person if the goods are supplied by a taxable person not established within the territory of the Member State in which the VAT is due. As regards intra-Union supplies of goods , the supplier shall, in principle, be liable for the payment of the VAT in the Member State of arrival of the goods except where the supplier is not established in the Member State of taxation and the customer is a certified taxable person. In the latter case, the customer will pay the VAT due by way of reverse charge in the Member State of arrival of the goods. Identification : an amendment is proposed according to which Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that a non-taxable legal person who is the recipient of an intra-Union supply is identified by means of an individual number. Reduced administrative formalities : the changes reboot the self-policing character of VAT and will reduce the amount of administrative steps that need to be taken by businesses when they sell to other companies in other Member States Intra-Union supplies of goods should under the proposed system no longer be included in the recapitulative statements. The principle of VAT being charged by the supplier on the intraUnion supply re-installs the self-policing character of VAT. Consequently, ensuring an administrative follow-up to the physical flow of goods through the recapitulative statement within the Union is no longer justified. Single online portal : in order to make the change to VAT rules as seamless as possible for businesses, the proposed amendments would introduce the necessary provisions to put in place an online portal or 'One Stop Shop' for all business-to-business (B2B) EU traders to sort out their VAT. This system will also be available to companies outside the EU who want to sell to other businesses within the Union and who would otherwise have to register for VAT in every Member State. Once in force, these businesses will simply have to appoint one intermediary in the EU to take care of VAT for them.
  • date: 2018-06-22T00:00:00 type: Debate in Council body: CSL docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=3626*&MEET_DATE=22/06/2018 title: 3626
  • date: 2018-09-10T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2019-01-22T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2019-01-25T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2019-0028&language=EN title: A8-0028/2019 summary: The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs adopted, following a special legislative procedure (consultation of Parliament), the report by Fulvio MARTUSCIELLO (EPP, IT) on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards the introduction of the detailed technical measures for the operation of the definitive VAT system for the taxation of trade between Member States. The committee recommended that the European Parliament approve the Commission's proposal subject to the following amendments: Taxation in the country of destination Members stressed that the creation of a single Union VAT area is crucial in order to decrease compliance costs for businesses, particularly SMEs working cross-border, to reduce the risks of cross-border VAT fraud and to simplify VAT-related procedures. The principle of taxation at origin as envisaged for the definitive VAT system should be replaced by the principle of taxation in the Member State of destination. That change should contribute to the reduction of VAT-related cross-border frauds by an estimated EUR 50 billion annually. Certified taxable persons Members proposed strict criteria, applied in a harmonised way by all Member States, need to be put in place to determine which enterprises can benefit from the status of the certified taxable person, and common rules and provisions resulting in fines and penalties for those who do not comply with them should be established. In order to ensure a harmonised interpretation in the granting of the certified taxable person status, the Commission shall adopt by means of an implementing act further guidance for Member States regarding the evaluation of those criteria, which shall be valid across the Union. In addition, in order to encourage applications for the certified taxable person status, the Commission shall introduce a tailored procedure for Small and Medium Enterprises. Where the status of certified taxable person is granted, that information shall be made available via the VAT Information Exchange System. Where the application is refused, the decision as well as the grounds for refusal shall be notified to tax authorities of other Member States. Tax authorities of Member States having granted the status of certified taxable person shall review that decision, at least every two years, to ensure that the conditions are still met. If the taxable person has not informed the tax authorities of any factor possibly affecting the certified taxable person status as laid out in the implementing act or has purposefully concealed it, it shall be subject to proportionate, efficient and dissuasive sanctions, including the loss of the certified taxable person status. Information portal By 1 June 2020, the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall establish a comprehensive, multilingual and publicly accessible Union VAT Web Information Portal on which businesses and consumers can quickly and effectively obtain accurate information on VAT rates – including which goods or services benefit from reduced rates or exemptions – and all relevant information on the implementation of the definitive VAT system in the different Member States. In complement to the Portal, an automated notification mechanism shall be set up. That mechanism shall ensure automatic notifications to tax payers on changes and updates to the VAT rates of Member States. Such automatic notifications shall be activated before the change becomes applicable and at the latest five days after the decision has been taken. Members stressed that Member States' tax administrations must cooperate closely in a spirit of mutual trust and exchange relevant information in order to carry out their tasks.
  • date: 2019-02-12T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=32096&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2019-02-12T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2019-0074 title: T8-0074/2019 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 493 votes to 48, with 137 abstentions, following a special legislative procedure (consultation), a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards the introduction of the detailed technical measures for the operation of the definitive VAT system for the taxation of trade between Member States. The European Parliament approved the Commission's proposal subject to the following amendments: Definitive VAT system for the taxation of trade between Member States Parliament stressed the urgent and far-reaching need to reform the VAT system in order to achieve a definitive VAT system that facilitates and simplifies intra-EU cross-border trade and to make the system more fraud-proof. The creation of a single Union VAT area is crucial in order to decrease compliance costs for businesses, particularly SMEs working cross-border, to reduce the risks of cross-border VAT fraud and to simplify VAT-related procedures. The current initiative is based on the Member States’ preferred approach of taxation at destination, with a view to allowing Member States a certain flexibility in the setting of VAT rates. Those new principles will enable the Member States to better fight VAT fraud, especially Missing Trader Intra-Community (MTIC), estimated to amount to at least EUR 50 billion a year. Certified taxable persons Members proposed strict criteria, applied in a harmonised way by all Member States, need to be put in place to determine which enterprises can benefit from the status of the certified taxable person, and common rules and provisions resulting in fines and penalties for those who do not comply with them should be established. These criteria shall include the absence of any serious criminal offence related to the applicant's economic activity, such as, in particular: (i) money laundering; (ii) tax evasion and tax fraud; (iii) misuse of EU funds and programmes; (iv) bankruptcy or insolvency fraud; (v) bribery and/or corruption; (vi) cybercrime; (vii) participation in a criminal organisation or terrorist activities. In order to ensure a harmonised interpretation in the granting of the certified taxable person status, the Commission shall adopt by means of an implementing act further guidance for Member States regarding the evaluation of those criteria, which shall be valid across the Union. In addition, in order to encourage applications for the certified taxable person status, the Commission shall introduce a tailored procedure for Small and Medium Enterprises. Where the status of certified taxable person is granted, that information shall be made available via the VAT Information Exchange System. Where the application is refused, the decision as well as the grounds for refusal shall be notified to tax authorities of other Member States. Tax authorities of Member States having granted the status of certified taxable person shall review that decision, at least every two years, to ensure that the conditions are still met. If the taxable person has not informed the tax authorities of any factor possibly affecting the certified taxable person status as laid out in the implementing act or has purposefully concealed it, it shall be subject to proportionate, efficient and dissuasive sanctions, including the loss of the certified taxable person status. Information portal By 1 June 2020, the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall establish a comprehensive, multilingual and publicly accessible Union VAT Web Information Portal on which businesses and consumers can quickly and effectively obtain accurate information on VAT rates – including which goods or services benefit from reduced rates or exemptions – and all relevant information on the implementation of the definitive VAT system in the different Member States. In complement to the Portal, an automated notification mechanism shall be set up. That mechanism shall ensure automatic notifications to tax payers on changes and updates to the VAT rates of Member States. Such automatic notifications shall be activated before the change becomes applicable and at the latest five days after the decision has been taken. Members stressed that Member States' tax administrations must cooperate closely in a spirit of mutual trust and exchange relevant information in order to carry out their tasks.
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title
Briefing
url
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)625184
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  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/taxation-and-customs-union_en title: Taxation and Customs Union commissioner: MOSCOVICI Pierre
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Rules of Procedure EP 159
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  • Directive
  • Amending Directive 2006/112/EC 2004/0079(CNS)
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Awaiting committee decision
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  • 2.70.02 Indirect taxation, VAT, excise duties
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Verts/ALE
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SCOTT CATO Molly
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
ECON/8/13272
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Preparatory phase in Parliament
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Awaiting committee decision
activities/0/docs/0/text
  • PURPOSE: to implement the definitive VAT system to improve the operation of VAT arrangements for cross-border B2B trade on goods within the Union.

    PROPOSED ACT: Council Directive.

    ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

    BACKGROUND: the creation of a simple, modern and fraud-proof VAT system is one of the fiscal priorities set out by the Commission. In its 2016 VAT action plan, the Commission announced its intention to propose a definitive VAT system for the EU.

    This proposal is part of a package of measures aimed at radically changing VAT rules by ending 25 years of a 'transitional' VAT system in the single market. This arrangement, as far as Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions on goods are concerned, split the cross-border movement of goods into two different transactions: an exempt supply in the Member State of departure of the goods and an intra-Community acquisition taxed in the Member State of destination

    The proposal presented by the Commission puts an end to this artificial split of a single commercial transaction.

    Besides the change to the definitive VAT system for cross-border trade, this move includes two other proposals to modify Directive 2006/112/EC (VAT Directive): one as regards VAT rates and one as regards the special scheme for small enterprises. In addition, it includes a proposal for a Council Regulation on combating fraud in the field of VAT.

    As regards the change towards a definitive VAT system based on the principle of taxation in the Member State of destination a gradual two-step approach was announced: a first step settling intra-Union B2B supplies of goods and a second step covering supplies of services.

    The first step was further divided into two sub-steps. The first sub-step, presented simultaneously with the Communication, was a legislative proposal which outlined the cornerstones for a simpler and fraud-proof definitive VAT system for intra-Union trade. 

    The current proposal represents the second sub-step. It contains the detailed arrangements to put these cornerstones in place for intra-Union B2B supplies of goods.

    IMPACT ASSESSMENT: a back to back impact assessment and evaluation was carried out which covered both the setting of the cornerstones of the definitive VAT system and the detailed arrangements for putting these cornerstones into place. The preferred option would reduce cross-border VAT fraud by up to EUR 41 billion per annum and reduce compliance costs for businesses by EUR 938 million per annum.

    The Regulatory Scrutiny Board gave a positive opinion to the impact assessment with some recommendations, in particular on the link of the proposal to other elements of the VAT Action Plan, the need for a staged approach and the concept of certified taxable person, that have been taken on board.

    CONTENT: this proposal amends the VAT Directive as regards the introduction of detailed technical measures for the operation of the definitive VAT system for the taxation of trade between Member States. It is intended to replace the transitional arrangements applicable since 1 January 1993 by a definitive VAT system for intra-Union B2B trade under which domestic and cross-border transactions involving goods will be treated in the same way.

    The main elements of the proposal are as follows:

    Simplifying how goods are taxed: in the current VAT system, trade in goods between businesses is split into two transactions: a VAT-exempt sale in the Member State of origin and a taxed acquisition in the Member State of destination.

    It is proposed that cross-border B2B supplies of goods within the Union should be combined into a single type of transaction for VAT purposes: an intra-Union supply of goods. A definition of the concept of intra-Union supply of goods is integrated.

    Place of supply rules: the combination of the definition of intra-Union supplies of goods and the new proposed place of supply rule ensures the taxation of cross-border B2B supply of goods in the Union in the Member State of destination.

    Chargeability of the tax: an amendment is proposed that determines a single rule for the chargeability of VAT on intra-Union supplies. According to this rule VAT shall become chargeable on issue of the invoice, or on expiry of the time limit if no invoice has been issued by that time (fifteenth day of the month following that in which the chargeable event occurs). 

    Person liable for payment of VAT: the principle remains that VAT shall be payable by any taxable person carrying out a taxable supply of goods or services, unless in other provisions, it is stipulated that VAT is payable by another person.

    As an exception, a new Article is proposed according to which VAT shall be payable by the person to whom the goods are supplied insofar he is a certified taxable person if the goods are supplied by a taxable person not established within the territory of the Member State in which the VAT is due.

    As regards intra-Union supplies of goods, the supplier shall, in principle, be liable for the payment of the VAT in the Member State of arrival of the goods except where the supplier is not established in the Member State of taxation and the customer is a certified taxable person. In the latter case, the customer will pay the VAT due by way of reverse charge in the Member State of arrival of the goods.

    Identification: an amendment is proposed according to which Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that a non-taxable legal person who is the recipient of an intra-Union supply is identified by means of an individual number. 

    Reduced administrative formalities: the changes reboot the self-policing character of VAT and will reduce the amount of administrative steps that need to be taken by businesses when they sell to other companies in other Member States

    Intra-Union supplies of goods should under the proposed system no longer be included in the recapitulative statements. The principle of VAT being charged by the supplier on the intraUnion supply re-installs the self-policing character of VAT. Consequently, ensuring an administrative follow-up to the physical flow of goods through the recapitulative statement within the Union is no longer justified. 

    Single online portal: in order to make the change to VAT rules as seamless as possible for businesses, the proposed amendments would introduce the necessary provisions to put in place an online portal or 'One Stop Shop' for all business-to-business (B2B) EU traders to sort out their VAT. This system will also be available to companies outside the EU who want to sell to other businesses within the Union and who would otherwise have to register for VAT in every Member State. Once in force, these businesses will simply have to appoint one intermediary in the EU to take care of VAT for them.

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2018-06-20T00:00:00
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  • group: EPP name: MARTUSCIELLO Fulvio
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ECR
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ZĪLE Roberts
committees/0/shadows
  • group: ENF name: KAPPEL Barbara
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  • group: ENF name: KAPPEL Barbara
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  • group: ENF name: KAPPEL Barbara
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url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=3626*&MEET_DATE=22/06/2018 type: Debate in Council title: 3626
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Economic and Financial Affairs ECOFIN
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2018-06-22T00:00:00
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Council Meeting
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MOSCOVICI Pierre
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MOSCOVICI Pierre
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  • date: 2018-05-25T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2018/0329/COM_COM(2018)0329_EN.pdf type: Legislative proposal published title: COM(2018)0329 body: EC type: Legislative proposal published commission:
committees
  • body: EP responsible: True committee_full: Economic and Monetary Affairs committee: ECON
links
other
    procedure
    reference
    2018/0164(CNS)
    subtype
    Legislation
    legal_basis
    Treaty on the Functioning of the EU TFEU 113
    stage_reached
    Preparatory phase in Parliament
    summary
    Amending Directive 2006/112/EC
    instrument
    Directive
    title
    Operation of the definitive VAT system for the taxation of trade between Member States
    type
    CNS - Consultation procedure
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    2.70.02 Indirect taxation, VAT, excise duties