The EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) was finally agreed on 24 December 2020. A week before the end of the transition period. Fully implemented into UK law, but the TCA remains provisional. It needs to be ratified in the European Parliament. Therefore it applies on a provisional basis until 28 February 2021.
Das TCA deckt neben dem Handel zwischen der EU und dem Vereinigten Königreich mehrere Bereiche ab, die sich mit Investitionen, Wettbewerb, staatlichen Beihilfen, Aufrechterhaltung gleicher Wettbewerbsbedingungen, Fischerei und Datenschutz befassen. Einige dieser Bereiche erwiesen sich während der Verhandlungen als am schwierigsten zu lösen.
Wie unterscheidet sich das TCA von der Zollunion?
The TCA provides for trade in goods between the UK and the EU to be on a zero tariff, zero quota basis. However, only if the goods meet the appropriate rules of origin. This reflects the reality that the TCA is not a replacement for the Customs Union. The Customs Union meant that once goods were in free circulation in the EU, they could move from one Member State to another without further payment of customs duty.
The TCA is different, and the origin of the goods is key. There are specific rules on determining origin and a system of self-certification is in place. For example, if goods are of Chinese origin, they won’t be covered by the TCA. So would be subject to whatever rate of customs duty applies in the EU when exported from Great Britain to the EU. This is in addition to customs duty that would apply in the UK based on the UK Global Tariff unless there was the application of an appropriate suspensive relief on arrival into the UK.
Mutual Assistance Provisions
Das TCA deckt auch die gegenseitige Unterstützung im Bereich der Mehrwertsteuer ab. Diese Bestimmungen zur gegenseitigen Amtshilfe können sich auf die Anforderung für britische Unternehmen auswirken, einen Fiskalvertreter in den Ländern zu benennen, in denen dies erforderlich ist. Solange die Mitgliedsstaaten ihre Anforderungen jedoch nicht formell ändern, ist es wichtig, dass Unternehmen ihren gesetzlichen Verpflichtungen nachkommen, wie sie derzeit bestehen.
Failure to appoint a fiscal representative when required may result in penalties imposed for not trading compliantly. In some cases could interrupt commercial transactions to the detriment of both the company and its customers.
The mutual assistance provisions may also have an impact on the requirement for UK companies to appoint an intermediary for the purposes of the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS). IOSS is proposed for implementation on 1 July 2021. The EU has a mutual assistance agreement with Norway. This means that Norwegian companies don’t need to appoint an intermediary for the purposes of IOSS. It’s hoped that the EU will extend this to companies in Great Britain.
VAT Position of Trade Between UK and EU
The VAT position of trade between the UK and the EU was largely known before the TCA was signed and is therefore not significantly impacted by the TCA. It was the UK ceasing to be a Member State and leaving the EU VAT area which determined the changes.
As a result, many businesses were able to take proactive action rather than awaiting the finalisation of the TCA. If a business did not take action to ensure ongoing VAT compliance, it’s essential to take the appropriate steps now. Furthermore, if businesses had a Brexit action plan, it is imperative that it’s implemented fully to remove risk.
The presence of a Customs border between the UK and EU means that goods cannot flow freely as they did in the past. Taking the appropriate steps to allow the goods to move is not the end of the story. Ensuring VAT compliance once the goods have arrived in the EU is essential. As is recognising that not all Member States have the same requirements.
Take Action
All businesses should review their current trading arrangements. Business need to ensure they are compliant and also that they’re trading in the most efficient way.
Möchten Sie wissen, wie sich der Brexit auf Ihre Pflichten zur Einhaltung der Mehrwertsteuer auswirken wird? Laden Sie unser Whitepaper Brexit und Umsatzsteuer herunter oder sehen Sie sich unser aktuelles Webinar Brexit und Umsatzsteuer: Schützen Sie Ihre wertvollen Lieferketten und minimieren Sie kostspielige Unterbrechungen an, um mehr zu erfahren.
