EU Council Approves DAC7 Rules on Digital Platform Tax Reporting

Sam Wichman
May 13, 2021

This blog was last updated on October 27, 2023

On 22 March 2021 the EU Council approved DAC7, which establishes EU-wide rules meant to improve administrative cooperation in taxation. In addition, the Directive addresses additional challenges posed by a growing digital platform economy.

What is DAC7?

In 2011, the EU adopted Directive 2011/16/EU on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation in the EU (‘DAC’). The aim of the Directive is to establish a system for secure cooperation between EU countries’ national tax authorities. The Directive also sets out the rules and procedures EU countries must apply when exchanging information for tax purposes. DAC7 is the seventh set of amendments to the Directive.

What are the new rules under DAC7?

The new DAC7 tax rules will require digital platforms to report the income earned by sellers on their platforms to EU tax authorities. As a result, reportable activities will include:

  • The sale of goods
  • The provision of personal services
  • The rental of immovable property
  • The rental of any mode of transport

Reportable information will include tax identification numbers, VAT registration numbers, in addition to other demographic information for sellers. The new rules extend the scope of automatic exchange of information among EU tax officials to the information reported by the digital platform operators.

The object of these new rules is to address the challenges posed by an ever-expanding global digital platform economy. Each year, more and more individuals and businesses use digital platforms to sell goods or provide services. Sales made online have become an even larger share of total global sales in the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Income earned through these digital platforms is often unreported and tax is not paid, which causes loss of tax revenue for Member States and gives an unfair advantage to suppliers on digital platforms over their traditional business competitors. The new amendments should address these issues, enabling national tax authorities to detect income earned through digital platforms and determine the relevant tax obligations.

Other rules included within the amendments will improve the exchange of information and cooperation between Member States’ tax authorities. It will now be easier than ever to obtain information on groups of taxpayers. Lastly, the new rules set up a framework for authorities of two or more Member States to conduct joint audits.

When will DAC7 apply?

The new DAC7 tax rules will apply to digital platforms operating both inside and outside the EU from 1 January 2023. The framework for authorities of two or more Member States to conduct joint audits will be operational by 2024 at the latest.

Take Action

Get in touch with our experts to discuss your EU tax requirements. To find out more about what we believe the future holds, download VAT Trends: Toward Continuous Transaction Controls.

Sign up for Email Updates

Stay up to date with the latest tax and compliance updates that may impact your business.

Author

Sam Wichman

Sam Wichman is a Junior Regulatory Counsel at Sovos. Within Sovos’ Regulatory Analysis function, Sam focuses on international VAT, global sales tax, and domestic sales tax issues. Sam received his B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his J.D. from Boston College Law School. Sam is pending admission to the Massachusetts Bar.
Share this post

2025 tax filing season
North America Tax Information Reporting
November 21, 2024
Top 5 FAQs to Prepare for the 2025 Tax Filing Season

This blog was last updated on November 21, 2024 While “spooky season” may be over for most of us, the scariest time of year for many businesses is right around the corner: tax filing season. As they brace themselves for the flood of forms, regulatory updates, and tight deadlines, the fear of missing a critical […]

dtc shipping law updates
North America ShipCompliant
November 13, 2024
DtC Shipping Laws: Key Updates for Alcohol Shippers

This blog was last updated on November 13, 2024 When engaging in direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of alcohol, compliance with different state laws is paramount and so keeping up with law changes is critical. In 2024, the rules in several states for DtC have already been adjusted or will change soon. Here is a review of […]

sales tax vs. use taxes
North America Sales & Use Tax
November 8, 2024
Sales Tax vs. Use Tax, Explained. Who Reports What, and When?

This blog was last updated on November 19, 2024 One of the core concepts in sales tax compliance is also one of the most frequently misunderstood: the differences between sales tax and use tax. These tax types may look similar on the surface, but knowing the differences is essential for staying compliant and avoiding costly […]

2025 bond project
North America Tax Information Reporting
November 4, 2024
2025 NAIC Bond Project – The Insurer’s Guide

This blog was last updated on November 14, 2024 The regulatory landscape for insurance companies is undergoing significant changes with the Principles-Based Bond Project which is set to take effect on January 1, 2025. These changes, driven by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), will impact how insurance companies classify and value bond investments, […]

E-Invoicing Compliance EMEA VAT & Fiscal Reporting
November 1, 2024
VAT in the Digital Age Approved in ECOFIN

This blog was last updated on November 7, 2024 The long-awaited VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) proposal has been approved by Member States’ Economic and Finance Ministers. On 5 November 2024, during the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meeting, Member States unanimously agreed on adopting the ViDA package. This decision marks a major […]