(5)

Section 2 of Chapter XI is replaced by the following: ‘ SECTION 2 Special schemes for taxable persons supplying services to non-taxable persons or making distance sales of goods or certain domestic supplies of goods (Articles 358 to 369x of Directive 2006/112/EC) Subsection 1 Definitions Article 57a For the purposes of this Section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) “non-Union scheme” means the special scheme for services supplied by taxable persons not established within the Community as set out in Section 2 of Chapter 6 of Title XII of Directive 2006/112/EC; (2) “Union scheme” means the special scheme for intra-Community distance sales of goods, for supplies of goods within a Member State made by electronic interfaces facilitating those supplies and for services supplied by taxable persons established within the Community but not in the Member State of consumption as set out in Section 3 of Chapter 6 of Title XII of Directive 2006/112/EC; (3) “import scheme” means the special scheme for distance sales of goods imported from third territories or third countries as set out in Section 4 of Chapter 6 of Title XII of Directive 2006/112/EC; (4) “special scheme” means the “non-Union scheme”, the “Union scheme” or the “import scheme” as the context requires; (5) “taxable person” means a taxable person referred to in Article 359 of Directive 2006/112/EC who is permitted to use the non-Union scheme, a taxable person referred to in Article 369b of that Directive who is permitted to use the Union scheme or a taxable person referred to in Article 369m of that Directive who is permitted to use the import scheme; (6) “intermediary” means a person defined in point (2) in the second paragraph of Article 369l of Directive 2006/112/EC. Subsection 2 Application of the Union scheme Article 57b (deleted) Subsection 3 Scope of the Union scheme Article 57c The Union scheme shall not apply to services supplied in a Member State where the taxable person has established his business or has a fixed establishment. The supply of those services shall be declared to the competent tax authorities of that Member State in the VAT return as provided for in Article 250 of Directive 2006/112/EC. Subsection 4 Identification Article 57d 1. Where a taxable person informs the Member State of identification that he intends to make use of the non-Union or the Union scheme, that special scheme shall apply as from the first day of the following calendar quarter. However, where the first supply of goods or services to be covered by the non-Union scheme or the Union scheme takes place before that date, the special scheme shall apply from the date of that first supply, provided the taxable person informs the Member State of identification of the commencement of his activities to be covered by the scheme no later than the tenth day of the month following that first supply. 2. Where a taxable person or an intermediary acting on his behalf informs the Member State of identification that he intends to make use of the import scheme, that special scheme shall apply from the day the taxable person or the intermediary has been allocated the individual VAT identification number for the import scheme as laid down in Article 369q(1) and (3) of Directive 2006/112/EC. Article 57e The Member State of identification shall identify the taxable person using the Union scheme by means of his VAT identification number referred to in Articles 214 and 215 of Directive 2006/112/EC. The individual identification number allocated to an intermediary pursuant to Article 369q(2) of Directive 2006/112/EC shall enable him to act as intermediary on behalf of taxable persons making use of the import scheme. However, this number cannot be used by the intermediary to declare VAT on taxable transactions. Article 57f 1. Where a taxable person using the Union scheme ceases to meet the conditions of the definition laid down in point (2) of Article 369a of Directive 2006/112/EC, the Member State in which he has been identified shall cease to be the Member State of identification. However, where that taxable person still fulfils the conditions for using that special scheme, he shall, in order to continue using that scheme, indicate as the new Member State of identification the Member State in which he has established his business or, if he has not established his business in the Community, a Member State where he has a fixed establishment. Where the taxable person using the Union scheme for the supply of goods is not established in the Community, he shall indicate as the new Member State of identification a Member State from which he dispatches or transports goods. Where the Member State of identification changes in accordance with the second subparagraph, that change shall apply from the date on which the taxable person ceases to have a place of business or a fixed establishment in the Member State previously indicated as the Member State of identification or from the date on which that taxable person ceases to dispatch or transport goods from that Member State. 2. Where a taxable person using the import scheme or an intermediary acting on his behalf ceases to meet the conditions laid down in points (b) to (e) of point (3) of the second paragraph of Article 369l of Directive 2006/112/EC, the Member State in which the taxable person or his intermediary has been identified shall cease to be the Member State of identification. However, where that taxable person or his intermediary still fulfils the conditions for using that special scheme, he shall, in order to continue using that scheme, indicate as the new Member State of identification the Member State in which he has established his business or, if he has not established his business in the Community, a Member State where he has a fixed establishment. Where the Member State of identification changes in accordance with the second subparagraph, that change shall apply from the date on which the taxable person or his intermediary ceases to have a place of business or a fixed establishment in the Member State previously indicated as the Member State of identification. Article 57g 1. A taxable person using the non-Union or the Union scheme may cease using those special schemes regardless of whether he continues to supply goods or services which can be eligible for those special schemes. The taxable person shall inform the Member State of identification at least 15 days before the end of the calendar quarter prior to that in which he intends to cease using the scheme. Cessation shall be effective as of the first day of the next calendar quarter. VAT obligations relating to supplies of goods or services arising after the date on which the cessation became effective shall be discharged directly with the tax authorities of the Member State of consumption concerned. 2. A taxable person using the import scheme may cease using that scheme regardless of whether he continues to carry out distance sales of goods imported from third territories or third countries. The taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf shall inform the Member State of identification at least 15 days before the end of the month prior to that in which he intends to cease using the scheme. Cessation shall be effective from the first day of the next month and the taxable person shall no longer be allowed to use the scheme for supplies carried out from that day. Subsection 5 Reporting obligations Article 57h 1. A taxable person or an intermediary acting on his behalf shall, no later than the tenth day of the next month, inform the Member State of identification by electronic means of any of the following: (a) the cessation of his activities covered by a special scheme; (b) any changes to his activities covered by a special scheme whereby he no longer meets the conditions necessary for using that special scheme; (c) any changes to the information previously provided to the Member State of identification. 2. Where the Member State of identification changes in accordance with Article 57f, the taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf shall inform both relevant Member States of the change no later than the tenth day of the month following that change. He shall communicate to the new Member State of identification the registration details required when a taxable person makes use of a special scheme for the first time. Subsection 6 Exclusion Article 58 1. Where a taxable person using one of the special schemes meets one or more of the criteria for exclusion laid down in Article 369e or for deletion from the identification register laid down in Article 363 or in Article 369r(1) and (3) of Directive 2006/112/EC, the Member State of identification shall exclude that taxable person from that scheme. Only the Member State of identification can exclude a taxable person from one of the special schemes. The Member State of identification shall base its decision on exclusion or deletion on any information available, including information provided by any other Member State. 2. The exclusion of a taxable person from the non-Union scheme or the Union scheme shall be effective from the first day of the calendar quarter following the day on which the decision on exclusion is sent by electronic means to the taxable person. However, where the exclusion is due to a change of place of business or fixed establishment or of the place from which dispatch or transport of goods begins, the exclusion shall be effective from the date of that change. 3. The exclusion of a taxable person from the import scheme shall be effective from the first day of the month following the day on which the decision on exclusion is sent by electronic means to the taxable person except for following situations: (a) where the exclusion is due to a change of his place of business or fixed establishment, in which case the exclusion shall be effective from the date of that change; (b) where the exclusion is due to his persistent failure to comply with the rules of this scheme, in which case the exclusion shall be effective from the day following that on which the decision on exclusion is sent by electronic means to the taxable person. 4. Except for the situation covered by point (b) of paragraph 3, the individual VAT identification number allocated for the use of the import scheme shall remain valid for the period of time needed to import the goods that were supplied prior to the date of exclusion, which may however not exceed two months as from that date. 5. Where an intermediary meets one of the criteria for deletion laid down in Article 369r(2) of Directive 2006/112/EC, the Member State of identification shall delete that intermediary from the identification register and shall exclude the taxable persons represented by that intermediary from the import scheme. Only the Member State of identification can delete an intermediary from the identification register. The Member State of identification shall base its decision on deletion on any information available, including information provided by any other Member State. The deletion of an intermediary from the identification register shall be effective from the first day of the month following the day on which the decision on deletion is sent by electronic means to the intermediary and the taxable persons he represents, except in the following situations: (a) where the deletion is due to a change of his place of business or fixed establishment, in which case the deletion shall be effective as from the date of that change; (b) where the deletion of the intermediary is due to his persistent failure to comply with the rules of the import scheme, in which case the deletion shall be effective as from the day following that on which the decision on deletion is sent by electronic means to the intermediary and the taxable persons he represents. Article 58a A taxable person using a special scheme who has, for a period of two years, made no supplies of goods or services covered by that scheme in any Member State of consumption shall be assumed to have ceased his taxable activities within the meaning of point (b) of Article 363, point (b) of Article 369e, point (b) of Article 369r(1) or point (b) of Article 369r(3) of Directive 2006/112/EC respectively. This cessation shall not preclude him from using a special scheme if he recommences his activities covered by any scheme. Article 58b 1. Where a taxable person is excluded from one of the special schemes for persistent failure to comply with the rules relating to that scheme, that taxable person shall remain excluded from using any of the special schemes in any Member State for two years following the return period during which the taxable person was excluded. However, the first subparagraph shall not apply in respect of the import scheme where the exclusion was due to persistent failure to comply with the rules by the intermediary acting on behalf of the taxable person. Where an intermediary is deleted from the identification register for persistent failure to comply with the rules of the import scheme, he shall not be allowed to act as an intermediary for two years following the month during which he was deleted from that register. 2. A taxable person or an intermediary shall be regarded as having persistently failed to comply with the rules relating to one of the special schemes, within the meaning of point (d) of Article 363, point (d) of Article 369e, point (d) of Article 369r(1), point (c) of Article 369r(2) or point (d) of Article 369r(3) of Directive 2006/112/EC, in at least the following cases: (a) where reminders pursuant to Article 60a have been issued to him or the intermediary acting on his behalf by the Member State of identification for three immediately preceding return periods and the VAT return has not been submitted for each and every one of these return periods within 10 days after the reminder has been sent; (b) where reminders pursuant to Article 63a have been issued to him or the intermediary acting on his behalf by the Member State of identification for three immediately preceding return periods and the full amount of VAT declared has not been paid by him or the intermediary acting on his behalf for each and every one of these return periods within 10 days after the reminder has been sent, except where the remaining unpaid amount is less than EUR 100 for each return period; (c) where, following a request from the Member State of identification and one month after a subsequent reminder by the Member State of identification, he or the intermediary acting on his behalf has failed to make electronically available the records referred to in Articles 369, 369k and 369x of Directive 2006/112/EC. Article 58c A taxable person who has been excluded from the non-Union scheme or the Union scheme shall discharge all VAT obligations relating to supplies of goods or services arising after the date on which the exclusion became effective directly with the tax authorities of the Member State of consumption concerned. Subsection 7 VAT return Article 59 1. Any return period within the meaning of Articles 364, 369f or 369s of Directive 2006/112/EC shall be a separate return period. 2. Where, in accordance with the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 of Article 57d, the non-Union or the Union scheme applies from the date of the first supply, the taxable person shall submit a separate VAT return for the calendar quarter during which the first supply took place. 3. Where a taxable person has been registered under the non-Union scheme and the Union scheme during a return period, he shall submit VAT returns and make the corresponding payments to the Member State of identification for each scheme in respect of the supplies made and the periods covered by that scheme. 4. Where the Member State of identification changes in accordance with Article 57f after the first day of the return period in question, the taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf shall submit VAT returns and make corresponding payments to both the former and the new Member State of identification covering the supplies made during the respective periods in which the Member States have been the Member State of identification. Article 59a Where a taxable person using a special scheme has supplied no goods or services in any Member State of consumption under that special scheme during a return period and has no corrections to make in respect of previous returns, he or the intermediary acting on his behalf shall submit a VAT return indicating that no supplies have been made during that period (a nil-VAT return). Article 60 Amounts on VAT returns made under the special schemes shall not be rounded up or down to the nearest whole monetary unit. The exact amount of VAT shall be reported and remitted. Article 60a The Member State of identification shall remind, by electronic means, taxable persons or intermediaries acting on their behalf who have failed to submit a VAT return under Articles 364, 369f or 369s of Directive 2006/112/EC of their obligation to submit such a return. The Member State of identification shall issue the reminder on the tenth day following that on which the return should have been submitted, and shall inform the other Member States by electronic means that a reminder has been issued. Any subsequent reminders and steps taken to assess and collect the VAT shall be the responsibility of the Member State of consumption concerned. Notwithstanding any reminders issued and any steps taken by a Member State of consumption, the taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf shall submit the VAT return to the Member State of identification. Article 61 1. Changes to the figures contained in a VAT return relating to periods up to and including the last return period in 2020 shall, after the submission of that VAT return, be made only by means of amendments to that return and not by adjustments in a subsequent return. Changes to the figures contained in a VAT return relating to periods from the first return period in 2021 shall, after the submission of that VAT return, be made only by adjustments in a subsequent return. 2. The amendments referred to in paragraph 1 shall be submitted electronically to the Member State of identification within three years of the date on which the initial return was required to be submitted. However, the rules of the Member State of consumption on assessments and amendments shall remain unaffected. Article 61a 1. A taxable person or an intermediary acting on his behalf shall submit his final VAT return and any late submissions of previous returns, and the corresponding payments, to the Member State which was the Member State of identification at the time of the cessation, exclusion or change where: (a) he ceases to use one of the special schemes; (b) he is excluded from one of the special schemes; (c) he changes the Member State of identification in accordance with Article 57f. Any corrections to the final return and previous returns arising after the submission of the final return shall be discharged directly with the tax authorities of the Member State of consumption concerned. 2. In respect of all taxable persons on whose behalf he is acting, an intermediary shall submit the final VAT returns and any late submissions of previous returns, and the corresponding payments, to the Member State which was the Member State of identification at the time of deletion or change where: (a) he is deleted from the identification register; (b) he changes the Member State of identification in accordance with Article 57f(2). Any corrections to the final return and previous returns arising after the submission of the final return shall be discharged directly with the tax authorities of the Member State of consumption concerned. Subsection 7a Import scheme — chargeable event Article 61b For the application of Article 369n of Directive 2006/112/EC, the time when the payment has been accepted means the time when the payment confirmation, the payment authorisation message or a commitment for payment from the customer has been received by or on behalf of the taxable person making use of the import scheme, regardless of when the actual payment of money is made, whichever is the earliest. Subsection 8 Currency Article 61c Where a Member State of identification whose currency is not the euro determines that VAT returns are to be made out in its national currency, that determination shall apply to the VAT returns of all taxable persons using the special schemes. Subsection 9 Payments Article 62 Without prejudice to the third subparagraph of Article 63a, and to Article 63b, a taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf shall make any payment to the Member State of identification. Payments of VAT made by the taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf under Articles 367, 369i or 369v of Directive 2006/112/EC shall be specific to the VAT return submitted pursuant to Articles 364, 369f or 369s of that Directive. Any subsequent adjustment to the amounts paid shall be effected by the taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf only by reference to that return and may neither be allocated to another return nor adjusted on a subsequent return. Each payment shall refer to the reference number of that specific return. Article 63 A Member State of identification which receives a payment in excess of that resulting from the VAT return submitted under Articles 364, 369f or 369s of Directive 2006/112/EC shall reimburse the overpaid amount directly to the taxable person concerned or the intermediary acting on his behalf. Where a Member State of identification has received an amount in respect of a VAT return subsequently found to be incorrect, and that Member State has already distributed that amount to the Member States of consumption, those Member States of consumption shall each reimburse their respective part of any overpaid amount directly to the taxable person or to the intermediary acting on his behalf. However, where overpayments relate to periods up to and including the last return period in 2018, the Member State of identification shall reimburse the relevant portion of the corresponding part of the amount retained in accordance with Article 46(3) of Regulation (EU) No 904/2010 and the Member State of consumption shall reimburse the overpayment less the amount that shall be reimbursed by the Member State of identification. The Member States of consumption shall, by electronic means, inform the Member State of identification of the amount of those reimbursements. Article 63a Where a taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf has submitted a VAT return under Articles 364, 369f or 369s of Directive 2006/112/EC, but no payment has been made or the payment is less than that resulting from the return, the Member State of identification shall, by electronic means on the tenth day following the latest day on which the payment should have been made in accordance with Articles 367, 369i or 369v of Directive 2006/112/EC, remind the taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf of any VAT payment outstanding. The Member State of identification shall by electronic means inform the Member States of consumption that the reminder has been sent. Any subsequent reminders and steps taken to collect the VAT shall be the responsibility of the Member State of consumption concerned. When such subsequent reminders have been issued by a Member State of consumption, the corresponding VAT shall be paid to that Member State. The Member State of consumption shall, by electronic means, inform the Member State of identification that a reminder has been issued. Article 63b Where no VAT return has been submitted, or where the VAT return has been submitted late or is incomplete or incorrect, or where the payment of VAT is late, any interest, penalties or any other charges shall be calculated and assessed by the Member State of consumption. The taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf shall pay such interests, penalties or any other charges directly to the Member State of consumption. Subsection 10 Records Article 63c 1. In order to be regarded as sufficiently detailed within the meaning of Articles 369 and 369k of Directive 2006/112/EC, the records kept by the taxable person shall contain the following information: (a) the Member State of consumption to which the goods or services are supplied; (b) the type of services or the description and quantity of goods supplied; (c) the date of the supply of the goods or services; (d) the taxable amount indicating the currency used; (e) any subsequent increase or reduction of the taxable amount; (f) the VAT rate applied; (g) the amount of VAT payable indicating the currency used; (h) the date and amount of payments received; (i) any payments on account received before the supply of the goods or services; (j) where an invoice is issued, the information contained on the invoice; (k) in respect of services, the information used to determine the place where the customer is established or has his permanent address or usually resides and, in respect of goods, the information used to determine the place where the dispatch or the transport of the goods to the customer begins and ends; (l) any proof of possible returns of goods, including the taxable amount and the VAT rate applied. 2. In order to be regarded as sufficiently detailed within the meaning of Article 369x of Directive 2006/112/EC, the records kept by the taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf shall contain the following information: (a) the Member State of consumption to which the goods are supplied; (b) the description and quantity of goods supplied; (c) the date of the supply of goods; (d) the taxable amount indicating the currency used; (e) any subsequent increase or reduction of the taxable amount; (f) the VAT rate applied; (g) the amount of VAT payable indicating the currency used; (h) the date and amount of payments received; (i) where an invoice is issued, the information contained on the invoice; (j) the information used to determine the place where the dispatch or the transport of the goods to the customer begins and ends; (k) proof of possible returns of goods, including the taxable amount and VAT rate applied; (l) the order number or unique transaction number; (m) the unique consignment number where that taxable person is directly involved in the delivery. 3. The information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be recorded by the taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf in such a way that it can be made available by electronic means without delay and in respect of each individual good or service supplied. Where a taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf has been requested to submit, by electronic means, the records referred to in Articles 369, 369k and 369x of Directive 2006/112/EC and he has failed to submit them within 20 days of the date of the request, the Member State of identification shall remind the taxable person or the intermediary acting on his behalf to submit those records. The Member State of identification shall by electronic means inform the Member States of consumption that the reminder has been sent.’.