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European Parliament Backs Measures to Combat VAT Fraud Related to E-commerce

European Parliament Backs Measures to Combat VAT Fraud Related to E-commerce

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Online sales in the EU are estimated to worth €550 billion a year – €96 billion of which is cross-border. The new EU VAT system for e-commerce aims to give simpler value added tax (VAT) rules and administration for businesses and measures for Member States to tackle VAT fraud related to e-commerce.

The new framework introduced the destination principle for cross-border business-to-consumer (B2C) sales; i.e. VAT is to be paid at the rate of the country of consumption as of January 2021. The regime is expected to raise €7 billion in VAT revenues for Member States and drop in VAT compliance costs of €2.3 billion a year for businesses from next year. Identification of the online businesses supplying goods and services to customers in other Member States, however, is going to be key when it comes to ensuring effective collection of VAT and addressing e-commerce VAT fraud.

The European Parliament supported measures on 17 December 2019 designed to fight e-commerce VAT evasion that would help close some of the €137 billion VAT gap each year across the EU due to (inter alia) VAT fraud. E-commerce payments in most cases involve intermediaries (payment service providers (PSPs). Accordingly, the first proposal would oblige PSPs to collect and retain cross-border e-commerce payment records for three years. The second proposal includes several measures to improve administrative cooperation, information sharing between the parties and effective prosecution supported by the European Public Prosecutor's Office.

Now, it is up to the EU Member State ministers to adopt the two pieces of legislation.

By Balint Zsoldos, Head of Tax, KCG Partners Law Firm

KCG Partners at a Glance

KCG Partners is a Hungarian business law firm providing a comprehensive range of legal services to international and local clients seeking local knowledge and global perspective. The firm comprises business-minded lawyers with sector-specific expertise, creating value for clients by applying a problem-solving approach and delivering innovative solutions.

The firm has a wealth of knowledge in corporate law, M&A, projects and construction, energy, real estate, tax, employment, litigation, privacy and forensics, securitization, estate planning and capital markets.

To address clients’ regional and international concerns, the firm maintains active working relationships with other outstanding independent law firms in Central and Eastern Europe, whilst senior counsel Mr. Blaise Pásztory brings over 40 years’ of US capital market and fund management experience.

KCG Partners Law Firm is the result of the teamwork of passionate and talented lawyers guided by the same principles and sharing the same values: 

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Firm's website: http://www.kcgpartners.com