Press Release: Standard VAT Return: Easing life for businesses and improving tax compliance

The Eruopean Commission on 23 October 2013 proposed a new standard VAT return, which can cut costs for EU businesses by up to €15 billion a year.

The aim of this initiative is to slash red-tape for businesses, ease tax compliance and make tax administrations across the Union more efficient. As such, it fully reflects the Commission's commitment to smart regulation and is one of the initiatives set out in the recent REFIT to simplify rules and reduce administrative burdens for businesses.

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: Memo, MEMO/13/926: Standard VAT Return: Frequently asked questions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-926_en.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/13/846: Speaking Points on Standard VAT Return http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-846_en.pdf

ESO: Background information: 'REFIT - Fit for growth' – Commission takes ambitious next steps to make EU law lighter http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-refit-fit-for-growth-commission-takes-ambitious-next-steps-to-make-eu-law-lighter-2/

EurActiv, 25.10.13: Commission proposed standard VAT return http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/vat-return-harmonisation-save-15-news-531323

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