CELEX: 52012PC0014
Language: en
Date: 2012-01-26
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION authorising Romania to apply a measure derogating from Article 287 of Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax

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		52012PC0014
		
			Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION authorising Romania to apply a measure derogating from Article 287 of Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax /* COM/2012/014 final - 2012/0002 (NLE) */
			
				
		
		
			
			   	EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.           CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
Grounds for and objectives of the proposal
Pursuant to Article 395(1) of Directive
2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax
(hereafter 'the VAT Directive'), the Council, acting unanimously on a proposal
from the Commission, may authorise any Member State to apply special measures
for derogation from the provisions of that Directive, in order to simplify the
procedure for collecting VAT or to prevent certain forms of tax evasion or
avoidance.
By letter registered with the Commission on
6 July 2011 Romania requested authorisation to exempt taxable persons
whose annual turnover is no higher than EUR 50 000. By letter registered with
the Commission on 30 August 2011, Romania subsequently replaced its
request by a new request to exempt taxable persons whose annual turnover is no
higher than EUR 65 000. In accordance with Article 395(2) of the VAT Directive,
the Commission informed the other Member States by letter dated 8 November
2011 of the request made by Romania. By letter dated 9 November 2011, the
Commission notified Romania that it had all the information necessary to
consider the request.
General context
Chapter 1 of Title XII of the VAT Directive
allows for the possibility for Member States to apply special schemes for small
enterprises, including the possibility of exempting taxable persons below a
certain annual turnover. This exemption implies that a taxable person does not
have to charge VAT on his supplies and, consequently, he can not deduct the VAT
on his inputs.
This annual turnover ceiling differs from one
Member State to another, particularly according to its date of accession. For
Member States that acceded after 1 January 1978, an annual turnover threshold
has been fixed by Article 287 of the VAT Directive. The maximum threshold
for Romania was fixed at EUR 35 000, calculated in accordance with the
conversion rate on the day of accession (Article 287(18)) of the VAT
Directive). 
The Romanian derogation request seeks to
simplify the VAT system for small enterprises by introducing this
simplification measure for taxable persons with an annual turnover no higher
than EUR 65 000 calculated in accordance with the conversion rate on the
day of accession. The measure will significantly reduce the burdens on those
businesses eligible for the scheme and release them from many of the VAT
obligations under the normal VAT arrangements. The system would be optional for
taxable persons.
In general, Romania faces a significant problem
of VAT non-compliance. In order to assist Romania, the Commission services have
provided technical assistance in order to evaluate the deficiencies of the
Romanian tax administration in terms of VAT control and non-compliance.
Missions were organised to Bucharest with the aim to identify suitable remedies
compatible with the VAT Directive and a number of recommendations were
formulated in this context for which Romania asked the Commission for support
with regard to their implementation. This proposal should therefore be seen as
a part of a package of measures to improve the general level of compliance and
to simplify the procedure for collecting VAT. It will notably be complemented
by the introduction of a flat-rate scheme for small operators pursuant to
Article 281 of the VAT Directive which will be applicable to small operators
who do no want to make use of this simplification measure. A consultation of
the VAT Committee took place on 19 October 2011 to this effect.
The derogation would run until the earliest of
31 December 2014 or the entry into force of a Directive on the annual turnover
threshold below which supplies of a taxable person may be exempt from VAT. On
the basis of information provided by Romania, the impact on the overall amount
of tax revenue collected at the stage of final consumption will be negligible.
Existing provisions in the area of the
proposal
In 2004, the Commission made a proposal to
increase the annual turnover threshold available to Member States (COM(2004)
728 final) for the exemption from VAT of taxable persons to EUR 100 000 with
the possibility of updating this amount each year.
Consistency with the other policies and
objectives of the Union
Not applicable.
2.           RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS
WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
Consultation of interested parties
Not relevant.
Collection and use of expertise
There was no need for external expertise.
Impact assessment
The decision aims at introducing a
simplification measure which removes many of the VAT obligations for businesses
operating with an annual turnover no higher than EUR 65 000 and therefore has a
potential positive impact for businesses. At the same time, it is expected that
this simplification measure will improve the general level of VAT compliance.
Because of the narrow scope of the derogation,
and its limited application in time, the scope will in any case be limited.
3.           LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE
PROPOSAL
Summary of the proposed action
Authorisation for Romania to apply a derogating
measure from the VAT Directive as regards an exemption scheme for businesses
with an annual turnover no higher than the equivalent in national currency of
EUR 65 000 at the conversion rate on the day of their accession.
Legal basis
Article 395 of the VAT Directive.
Subsidiarity principle
The proposal falls under the exclusive
competence of the EU. The subsidiarity principle therefore does not apply.
Proportionality principle
The proposal complies with the proportionality
principle for the following reason(s).
The Decision concerns an authorisation granted
to a Member State upon its own request and does not constitute any obligation.
Given the limited scope of the derogation, the
special measure is proportionate to the aim pursued.
Choice of instruments
Proposed instruments: Decision.
Other means would not be adequate for the
following reason(s).
Under Article 395 of the VAT Directive,
derogation from the common VAT rules is only possible with the authorisation of
the Council acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission. A Council Decision
is the most suitable instrument since it can be addressed to individual Member
States.
4.           BUDGETARY IMPLICATION
The proposal has no implication for the Union
budget.
5.           OPTIONAL ELEMENTS
The proposal includes a sunset clause.
2012/0002 (NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
authorising Romania to apply a measure
derogating from Article 287 of Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of
value added tax
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, 
Having regard to Council Directive
2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax[1], and in particular Article
395(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the
European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)              
By letter registered with the Commission on 30
August 2011, Romania requested authorisation for a measure derogating from
point (18) of Article 287 of Directive 2006/112/EC in order to exempt taxable
persons whose annual turnover is no higher than the equivalent in national currency
of EUR 65 000 at the conversion rate on the day of accession. This would
release those taxable persons from certain or all of the value added tax (VAT)
obligations referred to in Chapters 2 to 6 of Title XI of Directive
2006/112/EC.
(2)              
In accordance with the second subparagraph of
Article 395(2) of Directive 2006/112/EC, the Commission informed the other
Member States by letter dated 8 November 2011 of the request made by
Romania. By letter dated 9 November 2011, the Commission notified Romania
that it had all the information necessary to consider the request.
(3)              
A special scheme for small enterprises is an
option which is already available to Member States under Title XII of Directive
2006/112/EC. The measure derogates from Title XII of Directive 2006/112/EC only
insofar as the taxable person's annual turnover threshold for the scheme is
higher than that currently allowed for Romania under point (18) of Article 287
of Directive 2006/112/EC, which is EUR 35 000.
(4)              
A higher threshold for the special scheme for small
enterprises is a simplification measure as it may significantly reduce the VAT
obligations of the smallest businesses, whilst that special scheme is optional
for taxable persons. Overall, it is expected that this measure will improve the
general level of VAT compliance.
(5)              
In its proposal for a Directive simplifying
valued added tax obligations of 29 October 2004[2],
the Commission included provisions aimed at allowing Member States to set the
annual turnover ceiling for the VAT exemption scheme at up to EUR 100 000 or
the equivalent in national currency, with the possibility of updating this
amount each year. The request submitted by Romania is in line with that
proposal.
(6)              
The derogation has no impact on the Union's own
resources accruing from VAT and only a negligible effect on the overall amount
of the tax revenue of the Member State collected at the stage of final
consumption,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1
By way of derogation from point (18) of
Article 287 of Directive 2006/112/EC, Romania is authorised to exempt from VAT
taxable persons whose turnover is no higher than the equivalent in national
currency of EUR 65 000 at the conversion rate on the day of its accession to
the European Union.
Article 2
This Decision shall apply until the date of
entry into force of a Directive amending the amounts of the annual turnover
ceilings below which taxable persons may qualify for VAT exemption or until 31
December 2014, whichever date is earlier.
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to Romania.
Done at Brussels,
                                                                       For
the Council
                                                                       The
President
[1]               OJ L 347, 11.12.2006, p. 1.
[2]               COM(2004) 728 final.