NewsCase StudiesEvents

What Will Be The New Key To Simplified VAT In Europe?

Also in the news...

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.

Key Worker Protection Laws That Differ Across Borders

Essential Steps When Moving Business Goods Across Borders

Shipping goods between countries brings up several obstacles for businesses. Customs rules and paperwork can differ significantly depending on the destination and the nature of the goods being shipped. Customs systems and documentation requirements vary across regions, making it necessary for companies to stay informed.

Sell to the world and grow your business

Compare international markets, create your export action plan and join the UK Export Academy for free training.

Maps of East Midlands Investment Zone tax sites

Find the Investment Zone tax sites within East Midlands Investment Zone.

What Will Be The New Key To Simplified VAT In Europe?

Back to News

The European Commission might be abandoning its aim of a single VAT return for the whole of the EU and shifting its focus to the Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) scheme and Place of Supply rules, according to a paper released today by TMF Group.

In VAT reforms in Europe: past, present and future,TMF Group’s team of experts look at the past decade of reforms across the continent, and how this area will evolve over the next ten years.

VAT Technical Manager and co-author of the paper, Dr Robert Nagy, said: “A more unified and simplified VAT system for Europe is still the ultimate goal – and now that it appears a single VAT return is off the table, the EU Commission is likely to instead turn its attention to achieving its aim by:

  • Expanding the MOSS scheme to make it easier for businesses to report on cross-border transactions, and consequently achieve administration savings
  • Revising the Place of Supply rules in respect of the supply of goods, to reduce the compliance burden.

Dr Nagy continued: “The current VAT system in Europe is complex and characterised by varying rates for, and different treatments of, goods and services, depending on the country in question.

“While a single VAT return would have cut out a lot of that complexity, reduced bureaucracy and easier cross-border trade can still be achieved by amending other schemes that have previously either not been used to their full potential, or have simply not been completely explored to date.”

TMF Group is marking ten years of its VAT service line Beginning in 2005 as a small team covering the UK, Ireland and Germanic countries, the VAT team now consists of a large, multi-lingual group of experts with experience across many different industries. TMF Group is the world’s largest independent provider of VAT and GST registration, returns, recovery and compliance.


You are not logged in!

Please login or register to ask our experts a question.

Login now or register.