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Trade and services regulations in Luxembourg
If you are a UK business providing services in Luxembourg, you will need to follow Luxembourg regulations about:
If you were living in Iceland before 1 January 2021
Information for British citizens moving to or living in Iceland, including guidance on residency, healthcare and driving.
UK sanctions guidance for Uzbek businesses
Information about UK sanctions and relevant local laws to support compliance of non-UK businesses operating in Uzbekistan.
Protecting Business Reputation When Entering Foreign Markets
Expanding into new international markets presents promising growth opportunities. However, such moves come with challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining and protecting a business’s brand reputation.
EU Reviews Low Value Consignment VAT Loophole
In an effort to minimise VAT evasion, reduce administration and level the playing field for EU traders, the European Commission (EC) wants to abolish the Low Value Consignment Stock Relief (LVCR) scheme.
It’s estimated that the EU is currently losing as much as €500m per annum to non-EU sellers of goods who are able to use the scheme to their advantage, and are suspected of reducing the value of the shipments that they import into EC member states.
The EC has set quite an ambitious deadline of 1 January 2016 to introduce legislation that would see the VAT exemption removed for the importation of small consignments from non-EU suppliers.
The legislation would be welcomed by EU retailers, as it would resolve the issue of unfair advantage from competitors - particularly Chinese businesses.The closing of the LVCR loophole is expected to result in EU customers of overseas sellers being required to pay more, due to the items no longer being VAT free.
As was demonstrated in 2014 when the UK removed the LVCR scheme from businesses registered in the Channel Islands, governments would see a cost benefit (HMRC estimates the loophole was costing the UK £140m annually) and tax authorities would be relieved of having to track and prosecute international sellers.
Need more information? Contact our VAT team.