Vietnam: Changes to VAT rules
Some changes have been made to the VAT regime in Vietnam, effective from January 2014. An important change relates to branches of export processing enterprises, which are being brought within the VAT regime. These enterprises will now be required to
See MoreUK – VAT registration threshold will rise
The registration threshold for VAT in the UK is to increase to GBP 81.000 from April 2014. An enterprise or sole trader must register for VAT when sales reach this annual level. Following registration a trader must charge VAT on sales and pay this
See MoreRomania will not reduce VAT rate yet
Romania has announced that it cannot lower the current 24% VAT rate unless economic growth of more than 3 percent continues until 2015. Like some other EU countries, Romania raised its VAT rate on a temporary basis to deal with the consequences of
See MoreIsrael: High Court of Justice rejects petition to deny “foreign resident” VAT status from multinational internet companies
The High Court in Israel has rejected a petition asking the Court to order the Finance Minister and tax authorities to impose VAT on cross border services delivered electronically and on products of foreign companies sold in Israel. The Court
See MoreFrance – VAT on house improvement rises
France has confirmed that the reduced rate of VAT on home improvements is to rise from 7 percent to 10 percent. The previous 7 percent rate will however still apply in certain situations including work that began before 1 January 2014 and cases
See MoreUkraine – VAT bonds introduced by the parliament
Ukraine has passed a new measure to clarify the procedure for obtaining VAT refunds through VAT bonds (Law No 4575). The new law clarifies that VAT bonds will cover refunds claimed before 1 January 2014 but these bonds are only available in respect
See MoreAustralia considers GST rise
The rate of GST in Australia is currently 10%, however the possibility of raising the rate has been under consideration for some time. An increase in the GST rate could be used to fund reductions in tax on labor and in corporation tax, helping to
See MoreUnited Kingdom: Supreme Court Rules in Travel Agent VAT Case
A recent UK case involved the issue of whether the taxpayer was acting as an intermediary or was subject to the special VAT scheme for travel agents. The UK legislation is based on EU rules that require member states to apply the special scheme for
See MoreMalta improves late VAT payment regime
Malta’s VAT authority is to lessen fines on late VAT payers, and improve communications with taxable persons looking to bring their non-compliant affairs up-to-date. The daily penalty for late returns and payments of €15 will be scrapped. The
See MoreFrance – VAT on hotel accommodation may be damaging the tourism sector
In the opinion of some commentators the 1 January 2014 increase in VAT on hotel accommodation may be damaging the French tourism sector. The French hotel VAT rate rose from 7% to 10% in 2014 as part of reorganization of all French VAT rates –
See MoreEstonia – Amendments to VAT law
Estonia’s parliament (Riigikogu) has passed amendments to the value added tax (VAT) law that will be effective in 2014 or in 2015. Among the most significant amendments effective as from 1 March 2014 include the following: The amendments
See MoreBelgium: VAT rate change in 2014
Belgium has suggested that it plans to raise its standard VAT rate from the current rate of 21% to fund cuts to the labour tax regime. The Finance Minister has stated that the rise would be agreed after May’s general election. The amount of the
See MoreSpain – Refund opportunity for retail sales tax on hydrocarbons
The Court of Justice for the European Union (CJEU) in late February 2014 issued a judgment, finding that Spain’s tax on retail sales of certain hydrocarbons is contrary to EU law. The CJEU rejected a request of the Spanish tax authorities that
See MoreFrance cuts VAT rate on digital news
The French government has updated the Tax Code to reduce the VAT rate on digital news and journals from the standard 20% rate to the reduced rate of 2.1%. This puts digital news on a par with printed newspapers and magazines. This change is in
See MoreDenmark: MBA education liable to VAT
The MBA courses provided by Danish public universities are still subject to Danish VAT. The tax authorities wanted to challenge the VAT exemption on these additional educational services on the basis that the learning was not part of the legal
See MoreChina: VAT on telecoms
China’s plans to include telecoms services in the VAT pilot are progressing. It was confirmed in the Chinese Parliament that plans are advanced, although there was no indication of the VAT rate to be applied. This rate is expected to be 11%,
See MoreBelgium reduces VAT on Electricity
Recent VAT changes in Belgium include the latest change in VAT rate for supplies of electricity. The rate will change from 21% to 6% and will take effect from1 April 2014 until 31 December 2015 with an option to extend the rate into 2016 and
See MoreUK: Bitcoin VAT exemption
The UK tax administration HMRC would exempt transactions in Bitcoins from the 20% UK VAT net on each sale or on profit margins, although exchange commissions would remain liable. HMRC originally provided guidance in November 2013 that Bitcoins
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