News

The Dutch tax authorities have confirmed that a new electronic filing system will be introduced on 1 January 2014 in an attempt to simplify the reporting process.  The new system should mean that paper returns are no longer required for VAT reporting and also EC Sales Lists. It is currently unclear whether the introduction of the new system will impact the filing deadline; we are awaiting further guidance from…

EU established suppliers of telecoms, broadcasting and electronic services should be aware that they need to change the way VAT is accounted for on B2C supplies from 1 January 2015.  As highlighted in our recent story, businesses will either have to register for VAT in each country where their customer is located, or register for the MOSS scheme and complete a single…

The ECJ recently published an Order in response to questions referred by Bulgaria concerning when VAT deduction may be refused on the basis that a supply did not take place. In this particular case, the question was asked where it was not disputed that the supplier accounted for Output VAT, and as such there would be no loss to the tax authority. The question the Bulgarian tax authorities asked was:…

The deadline to claim a refund of UK VAT incurred by non-EU business is 31 December, 2013. Applications must cover a period of not less than three consecutive calendar months (e.g. from 1 July to 30 September) of the prescribed year and not more than a prescribed year. The prescribed year is the 12 month period from 1 July to 30 June. However, applications may relate to a period…

On 13 November 2013, the government approved a draft law reintroducing the VAT reduced rate of 8% applicable to:

• beet sugar imported and supplied in the territory of Moldova; and
• natural crop, horticulture production and livestock produced and supplied in the territory of Moldova.

If the draft is approved, the amendments should enter into force on 1 January 2014.

The ECJ has confirmed that where a contract does not specifically include any provisions for VAT, any amounts paid are deemed to be inclusive of any VAT due.  This is on the basis that domestic legislation does not  permit the supplier to recover from the customer any amounts due.

As we reported in our news story in May this year, HMRC have reminded businesses that 13 EU Member States including the UK are trialing cross-border rulings.  The trial ends on 31 December 2013.

Just three days ago, I wrote about President Barroso’s confident reassertion of the EU’s convergence principle: ‘ever closer union’. For Barroso, an EU project based on expansion and harmonization is self-evidently worthwhile, but there is no room for complacency: [P]ro-European forces need to take the lead, and not leave the initiative in the hands of the doomsayers…

A new VAT Act came into force in September 2013. The key changes include the reclassification of certain types of supplies, place of supply rules and the requirement for tax representatives for non-resident businesses.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe officially announced that the Japanese Consumption Tax (JCT) rate will be increased to from 5% to 8% from 1 April 2014, with a further possible increase to 10% in 2015. There will also be some amendments made to the JCT law including tax exemptions for newly established small and medium sized businesses.