EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 4.10.2017 COM(2017) 566 final COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE On the follow-up to the Action Plan on VAT

Towards a single EU VAT area - Time to act



1.INTRODUCTION – THE WAY TOWARDS A SINGLE EUROPEAN VAT AREA The EU VAT system is an asset of the Single Market; by removing obstacles that distorted competition and prevented the free movement of goods it has greatly facilitated trade in the EU. As a broad-based consumption tax, the Value Added Tax (VAT) is considered to be one of the most growth-friendly forms of taxation. VAT is also a major and growing source of tax revenue in the European Union . However, in recent years, the VAT system has been unable to keep pace with the globalisation and digitalisation of the economy. In particular, the current system for the taxation of trade between Member States is still based on 25 year old "transitional arrangements". Under these arrangements, domestic transactions and cross-border transactions are subject to two completely different VAT regimes. As a result businesses trading cross-border bear an extra compliance cost of 11% in comparison to businesses trading only domestically. In addition, by allowing goods to be purchased cross-border free of VAT, these arrangements are particularly prone to fraud. In 2015, EUR 151 billion, representing 12.8% of the VAT liability were lost due to fraud and other shortcomings. In this regard, it has been estimated that EUR 50 billion is due to cross-border VAT fraud, a fraud committed in large part by criminal organisations and which, according to recent press reports, has also been used to finance terrorism. Today, the EU VAT system is too fragmented and too prone to fraud. As part of its agenda for a fair and efficient tax system in the EU, the Commission aims at rebooting the VAT system to ensure it remains an asset for the future. It has been estimated that putting in place a unified VAT regime in the single market would reduce cross-border VAT fraud by EUR 41 billion and compliance costs for businesses by EUR 1 billion. In its Action Plan on VAT (the 'VAT Action Plan') of 7 April 2016, the Commission outlined the need to put in place a single European VAT area that could cater for the challenges of the 21st century. A set of key measures to be adopted in the short and medium term were announced in order to modernise the EU VAT system and make it simpler, more fraud-proof and business-friendly. These measures respond to several objectives: adapting the VAT system to the global, digital and mobile economy, supporting the needs of SMEs, providing for an adequate rates policy, putting an end to cross-border fraud and helping Member States closing the VAT gap. The modernisation of the existing VAT system will be achieved through a series of gradual steps. This Communication reports on the actions that have already been taken (Section 2) and provides further details on the steps forward (Section 3), including the initiatives that will be adopted this year: ·A legislative package on the definitive VAT system for intra-Union business-to-business (B2B) trade (hereafter the 'definitive VAT system'); ·A proposal on the reform of the VAT rates; ·A proposal to reinforce the existing instruments for VAT Administrative Cooperation; and ·A proposal to simplify the VAT rules for SMEs. 2.ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE THE ADOPTION OF THE VAT ACTION PLAN 2.1 Adapting the VAT system to the digital economy and preparing for a modernised rates policy On 1 December 2016, the Commission adopted several proposals to modernise VAT for cross-border e-commerce and a proposal on the VAT rate for e-publications. These proposals, which are an important part of the Digital Single Market strategy, aim at adapting the VAT system to the digital economy. 2.1.1. VAT e-commerce proposals The digitalisation of the economy has created increasingly pressing challenges for taxation policy. Some innovative and forward-looking solutions are necessary to keep track with these new business trends. Tax rules need to evolve to adapt to the fast-paced change in business models and consumer patterns. In parallel, taxation should be fair and effective for emerging businesses and should contribute positively to the development of the digital single market. As a consumption tax, VAT has an important role in the strategy to meet these goals. The proposals on e-commerce are intended to benefit businesses, citizens and Member States and have allowed the EU to be seen as a leader globally. The new rules would allow companies that sell goods online to deal easily with all their EU VAT obligations in one place and would simplify the treatment of VAT for start-ups and micro-businesses selling online cross-border sales under EUR 10 000. SMEs would also benefit from simpler procedures for cross-border sales of up to EUR 100 000. The new rules would also remove the current VAT exemption for small consignments imported into the EU that are worth less than EUR 22 and ensure that EU business can benefit from a level-playing field. These proposals are currently being discussed in Council. Furthermore, in the framework of the EU VAT Forum, the Commission is exploring how to establish structured public-private cooperation with tax administrations, logistics companies, internet platforms, payment service providers and business associations with a view to improving VAT collection, reducing fraud in the field of e-commerce and delivering a level playing field for compliant business. The result of this consultation will provide evidence for a Commission initiative in 2018. 2.1.2. VAT e-publications proposal

The Commission has also delivered on its pledge to enable Member States to apply the same VAT rate to e-publications such as e-books and online newspapers, as for their printed equivalents, removing provisions that excluded e-publications from the favourable tax treatment allowed for traditional printed publications. This proposal is a step forward in ensuring technological neutrality and removing tax obstacles to the development of the e-publications market. This proposal is currently under discussion in Council. 2.2 Targeted measures to address fraud 2.2.1 Improving tax collection and administrative cooperation The Commission has launched the development of the Transaction Network Analysis for the exchange and joint processing of targeted VAT data by risk analysis officials of the Eurofisc network. This new instrument will allow tax administrations to stop fraudulent networks in a simpler, quicker and more secured way. Furthermore, in the area of criminal law, the Directive against fraud to the EU financial interests by means of criminal law was adopted last July and provides for minimum rules on the definition of criminal offences against the Union's financial interests, sanctions and limitation periods. The Directive defines the material competence of the future European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). The EPPO will, in particular, be competent for the criminal investigation and prosecution of VAT fraud connected with the territory of two or more Member States that involves a total damage of at least EUR 10 000 000. As regards international relations, the Commission has been negotiating an EU-Norway Agreement for administrative cooperation, combating fraud and recovery of claims in the field of VAT. The Agreement will enter into force after the adoption by the Council of the Decisions for its signature and conclusion. Furthermore an administrative arrangement for cooperation was signed between the Commission services and the Intra-European Organisation of Tax Administrations (IOTA) in order to exchange best practices between the Member States and the IOTA members. Finally, various Member States have requested support to enhance tax administration capacity. Support actions under the Structural Reform Support Programme are closely coordinated under the FISCALIS programme. 2.2.2 Temporary derogation On 21 December 2016, the Commission fulfilled its commitment to present a proposal for a Council Directive as regards the temporary application of a generalised reverse charge mechanism in relation to supplies of goods and services above a threshold of EUR 10 000 per invoice. Under such a system, VAT is ‘suspended’ along the whole economic chain (between businesses) and is charged only to final consumers. This measure is intended to help Member States particularly affected by fraud to fight against carousel fraud while a comprehensive and EU-wide solution is put in place. Negotiations are ongoing in Council. 3.IMPLEMENTATION OF UPCOMING PROPOSALS 3.1 Towards a robust single European VAT area 3.1.1 Implementing the first step of the definitive VAT system As announced in its VAT Action Plan, the Commission proposes to replace the current transitional arrangements for the taxation of trade between Member States by definitive arrangements. In line with requests of the European Parliament and the Council, this definitive VAT system will be based on the principle of taxation in the Member State of destination. In order to allow a soft transition for tax administrations and businesses, this change will be made through a gradual two-step approach. As a first legislative step, the VAT treatment of intra-Union B2B supplies of goods would be settled. The implementation of this first legislative step would be further divided into two sub-steps (see Sections 3.1.1.1 and 3.1.1.2 below), comprising a set of proposals to be adopted by the Commission this year (sub-step 1) and another one to be adopted next year (sub-step 2). As a second legislative step, the new VAT treatment would be extended to all cross-border supplies, therefore also covering supplies of services. The implementation of this second legislative step would be proposed by the Commission after due monitoring of the implementation of the first step, the functioning of which would be evaluated by the Commission five years after its entry into force. The definitive system would then be fully implemented. After due consultation of all stakeholders and detailed analysis of the different options to implement the destination principle, the Commission opted for taxation rules according to which, for intra-Union cross-border supplies of goods, the supplier would charge the VAT to his customer at the rate of the Member State of arrival of the goods. The VAT would be declared and paid in the Member State where the supplier is established via a one-stop-shop mechanism. However, during the first step of the definitive VAT system and as an exception to this general principle, if the customer is certified as a compliant business by its tax administration (a possibility also opened to SMEs), this customer would continue to be liable for the VAT on goods purchased from other Member States as is currently the case. Additionally, Council conclusions and discussions with the Member States and other stakeholders on the VAT Action Plan showed a need to introduce certain short-term improvements to the current VAT system ("quick fixes"). Those four quick fixes are proposed this year together with the legal cornerstones of the definitive VAT system (sub-step 1 below). A proposal in 2018 (sub-step 2 below) will further provide detailed technical provisions for the actual implementation of the first step of the definitive VAT system. 3.1.1.1.First sub-step: the October 2017 definitive VAT system package The October 2017 definitive VAT system package consists of the following three pieces of legislation:

A] A proposal for a Directive amending the VAT Directive The proposal introduces the following: a) The notion of certified taxable person, modelled on the existing concept of authorised economic operator in the field of customs. The concept of certified taxable person allows for an attestation that a particular business can globally be considered to be a reliable taxpayer. Certified taxable persons would benefit from certain simplifications. The proposal lays down the criteria to be fulfilled in order to be granted the certified taxable person status, the cases of exclusion, the Member State competent to grant and withdraw the certified taxable person status, the right of taxable persons to appeal against administrative decisions on this matter and the obligation of mutual recognition by Member States. b) Three "quick fixes" requested by the Council, namely: - simplification and harmonisation of rules regarding call-off stock arrangements; - recognition of the VAT identification number of the customer as a substantive condition in order to exempt from VAT an intra-Community supply of goods; - simplification of rules in order to ensure legal certainty regarding chain transactions. Those "quick fixes" would only be available to certified taxable persons (except the "VAT number quick fix" which, by its own nature, cannot be so restricted). c) The legal cornerstones of the definitive VAT system. They include, in particular, the introduction of the principle of taxation in the Member State of destination and of the liability of the supplier as a rule (except where the customer is a certified taxable person). They also introduce a One Stop Shop (OSS) that would allow suppliers to account for the VAT due on their supplies of goods to other Member States in their Member State of establishment. This OSS would allow offsetting output VAT due on supplies made against input VAT incurred on purchases made within the EU. B] A proposal amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 282/2011 to introduce the fourth "quick fix" This proposal introduces the fourth “quick fix” required by the Council, namely, the harmonisation and simplification of rules on the proof of the intra-Community transport of the goods in order to exempt from VAT an intra-Community supply of goods. This simplification would only be available where a certified taxable person is involved. C] A proposal amending the VAT Regulation on Administrative Cooperation This proposal is needed to ensure the inclusion of the certified taxable person status in the VIES system. It will provide the legal basis for an efficient technical IT tool allowing Member States and operators to immediately check electronically whether an operator has been granted that status. 3.1.1.2. Second sub-step: the 2018 detailed technical provisions for the definitive VAT system The above mentioned legal cornerstones of the definitive VAT system would constitute the agreement of principle of the Member States to move from the current VAT transitional arrangements to a definitive VAT system based on the principle of taxation at destination. The Commission will adopt in 2018 a proposal for a Directive, accompanied by the relevant implementing measures, laying down the detailed technical provisions needed for the operation of the definitive VAT system. The 2018 proposal will introduce the specific provisions for the implementation of the legal cornerstones. Implementing measures will also be proposed to form the basis of the IT developments necessary for the functioning of the new system by 2022. 3.1.2. Fighting VAT fraud today: better administrative cooperation for faster results Several recent press reports across Europe as well as investigations by national authorities have highlighted the decisive link between large-scale VAT fraud cases and organised crime. These have shown that the proceeds from the fraud are feeding money laundering schemes before being invested in other criminal activities, and possibly terrorism financing. In this context, and as recognised by the European Parliament, the Member States and the European Court of Auditors, the instruments for administrative cooperation in the field of VAT must be reinforced.