Changes ahead for VAT at EU level

The European Commission’s VAT Action Plan and its Work Programme for 2017 aim to adopt a number of VAT proposals for a simpler and fraud-proof definitive VAT system. There are also plans to reform VAT rates, along with the Small Medium Enterprise (SME) VAT package and proposals for improved administrative cooperation.

In conjunction with these proposals, the Commission launched public consultations and the CCAB-I made the following submissions:
Special Scheme for Small Enterprises under the VAT Directive
The theme of the CCAB-I’s response to this consultation is that VAT measures to assist the SME sector are more effective if directed by national government rather than mandated at EU level.
VAT System for Business to Business transactions on goods
In this submission, the CCAB-I supports proposals to introduce a one-stop shop system for business to business (B2B) transactions on goods in the EU.
Reform of VAT rates
In this submission, the CCAB-I takes the view that as much flexibility as possible should remain available to national governments to decide VAT rates within the bands set out in the VAT Directive.
VAT reform also features on the agenda of tomorrow’s meeting of ECOFIN with the reduced VAT rate for electronic publications and the reverse charge mechanism scheduled for discussion.