EU takes control of VAT refunds

The European Commission adopted a proposal in July 2010 to postpone the deadline for the submission of VAT refund requests related to 2009.

In view of the late implementation by Member States of the new VAT refund procedure, which came into force on 1st January 2010, the Commission proposed giving more time to taxpayers to introduce their requests for VAT refund.

At the same time, the Commission proposed harmonising some features of the national VAT refund web portals in order to make them more interoperable and accessible for taxpayers.

The Commission has been forced to wade into the chaos that has surrounded the introduction of a new, EU-wide electronic value-added tax system in an effort to get an estimated €8bn of annual VAT refund claims flowing more smoothly.

Website: International VAT Association (IVA) http://www.iva-online.org/

ESO: Background information: VAT refund changes hold up Europe businesses http://www.europeansources.info/record/vat-refund-changes-hold-up-europe-businesses/

European Commission: DG Taxation and Customs Union: Taxation; VAT http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/vat/how_vat_works/index_en.htm

European Commission: Press Release, IP/10/950: The Commission safeguards taxpayers' right to VAT refunds http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/950&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: COM (2010)381: Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 2008/9/EC laying down detailed rules for the refund of value added tax, provided for in Directive 2006/112/EC, to taxable persons not established in the Member State of refund but established in another Member State http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/resources/documents/taxation/vat/key_documents/legislation_proposed/com(2010)381_en.pdf

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