The convergence of traditional Value Added Tax (VAT) and transactional compliance regimes is creating new obligations and responsibilities for companies doing business around the world. When it comes to VAT, compliance is so much more than just reporting.

Here are six pitfalls you should avoid in the pursuit of VAT compliance:

 

1. Making the wrong VAT decision at the outset

Companies with multijurisdictional supply chains must ensure their VAT determination decisions are accurate every time. Managing the validation process with VAT Determination software that checks validity before invoices are cut can save time and improve data accuracy from the outset.

It’s also best practice to complete your buyer VAT ID checks at this point in the process to avoid nasty surprises later. Checking manually can be incredibly resource-intensive so using a solution that can automate this for you can save both time and hassle.

 

2. Not having a legally valid invoice

To be considered legal for VAT purposes, invoices need to meet a specific set of requirements which vary by jurisdiction. Without legally valid invoices, you may be presented with a host of problems when the time comes to reclaim input VAT. If you have accepted an invoice that doesn’t tick the boxes that make it legal for VAT purposes, you invite the scrutiny of the tax authorities.

Aside from possible fines, the delay while anomalies are reviewed can impact your cash flow and cause reputational damage. Even in a paper world, VAT deduction is not permitted for improperly formatted invoices.

 

3. Missing reporting deadlines

With VAT obligations always growing and adapting, the pressure on internal tax teams is greater than ever. Each government has its own approach to penalties for late submissions or overdue payments. Manual processes can no longer be relied upon to meet the demands of the authorities on time, and with accuracy.

It’s possible to streamline the reporting process using software, outsourced services or a hybrid approach; what’s best for your business depends on how your tax team is organised.

 

4. Manual error

With new requirements coming thick and fast, teams are working harder and faster. As a result, opportunities for manual error are at an all-time high.

Manually processing VAT invoices can be incredibly time-consuming and leaves room for oversight and human error. Even individual errors can lead to bigger problems down the line, attracting the attention of the authorities and impacting your ability to do business.

 

5. Challenges with data extraction and mapping

Extracting the right data from the appropriate system modules, and then processing and mapping it so that it can be summarised, is a complicated and detailed task. To complicate matters further, each jurisdiction has its own unique reporting requirements you must meet. Automating these processes can improve accuracy and your ability to comply.

 

6. Not reviewing data prior to submission

Preparing VAT Returns, EC (European Commission) Sales Lists, Intrastat Declarations and other country-specific reports for regular submission can be demanding. Add in the need to prepare a SAF-T (Standard Audit File for Tax) report and the complexity intensifies. SAF-T requirements differ by country, including transactional data (about sales and purchases) and accounting data at a minimum, but often need information about assets and inventory as well.

Combining detailed data from different source systems with an exacting submission format means the report cannot be easily eyeballed to check for possible errors. Tax Authorities use software to analyse the SAF-T filings   they receive and decide where to follow up with further auditing. To safeguard the quality of the submission and avoid a call from the tax authority, it’s essential that data is thoroughly analysed before it’s submitted – ideally using tools of the same calibre that each Tax Authority is using.

 

It’s never been more important to seek the right advice for VAT. Admitting you need help can be a daunting but crucial step, but the fear of non-compliance should be a bigger concern.

Simply put, there comes a time for every multinational organisation when managing complex tax obligations in-house just isn’t viable anymore. Consolidating your compliance with Sovos gives you access to industry-leading software, consulting services and regulatory experts, all of which are focused on ensuring you’re compliant now and will remain so in the future.

To find out more, get in touch today.

Greece’s VAT reform started back in 2020 and it has manifested itself in three continuous transaction control (CTC) initiatives.

Namely, the initiatives are:

Recently, the introduction of an e-transport mandate was included in the country’s VAT reform strategy, although not much detail has been published yet.

More progress has been made in implementing the myDATA scheme and the new cash registers than for CTC e-invoicing. However, in the last few months, the authorities have taken steps towards setting up the right framework to make CTC e-invoicing – which is currently voluntary for B2B transactions – mandatory for all.

myDATA e-audit reform

myDATA went live as a voluntary system in 2020 and followed a gradual implementation timeline which is ongoing. It is an e-audit system that requires taxpayers to report transactional and accounting data to the tax administration, in real-time or periodically, which populates a set of online ledgers maintained on the government portal. The goal of myDATA is for the online ledgers to be the only source of truth of the taxpayer’s tax and financial results, and for their respective information to pre-fill the taxpayer’s VAT returns and financial statements.

Greece’s myDATA is a reporting obligation of ledger-type data and it is not to be confused with e-invoicing as it doesn’t require invoices to be issued and exchanged in electronic form. Greece allows for invoices (in B2B transactions) to be issued and exchanged on paper or electronically following the standard e-invoicing rules of the EU VAT Directive.

B2B e-invoicing reform in Greece

In parallel with the roll-out of myDATA, the authorities established an accreditation framework for e-invoicing service providers and introduced a voluntary e-invoicing scheme involving accredited entities. These entities are accredited by the government to perform certain functions, namely:

To encourage the uptake of CTC e-invoicing, the government provided several incentives to businesses to use e-invoicing facilitated through accredited service providers. It also obliged businesses who opt for CTC e-invoicing to use no other methods to fulfil the myDATA requirements e.g., ERP reporting, except through accredited service providers. This implies that a business selecting CTC e-invoicing for its B2B transactions must use the same method for issuing and reporting all other invoices, including B2G transactions, and vice versa.

B2G e-invoicing reform in Greece

CTC e-invoicing became mandatory for B2G transactions on 12 September 2023 for VAT-registered suppliers to certain government agencies. The mandate will continue to roll out in phases with the next main milestone coming up in January 2024. This obligation covers the vast majority of public contracts, from defence and security to general supplies and services, with some exceptions (e.g. contracts in defence and security which are classified as secret).

With the introduction of the B2G e-invoicing mandate, the use of CTC e-invoicing has indirectly become mandatory for B2B transactions too, encompassing both issuance and reporting to myDATA. It means that businesses in the scope of the B2G e-invoicing mandate have the obligation to use CTC e-invoicing through accredited e-invoicing service providers to issue and report both their B2B and B2G e-invoice flows to myDATA.

While a B2B e-invoicing mandate cannot be introduced without prior approval by the European Commission, the Greek Ministry of Finance announced that it has started a dialogue with the Commission to discuss the conditions required to implement a nationwide mandate.

Although an ambitious timeline, the Ministry envisions a full implementation of a B2B e-invoicing mandate within 2024.

Looking ahead

Clearly, Greece’s CTC initiatives are in line with the EU paradigm shift towards increased governmental control over transactional and accounting data – it recognises the benefits of tighter tax compliance and taking steps to close its tax gap.

Significant progress has been made, with myDATA operational since 2021. With the addition of CTC e-invoicing and the e-transport mandate in the VAT reform strategy, the Greek government and businesses face a demanding period in the coming years.

Need help with the current VAT reform in Greece? Our expert team can help.

How can manufacturers navigate the ever-evolving and increasingly complex world of value added tax (VAT)? There are several, key ways to evaluate your current and future approach to VAT, maintaining compliance the entire way.

1. Ensure alignment between IT and tax teams

Far too often we have seen IT-centric processes miss (or at least misunderstand) key compliance needs and requirements, and tax-centric processes fail to consider the practicalities of automation. Both tax and IT must realise that they will need each other for ongoing maintenance and solution expansion initiatives.

2. Continually establish and evolve processes to share up-to-date compliance documentation

Organisations would be well served to establish and share solid documentation around their compliance protocols and conduct periodic reviews to ensure they are continuing to do what is necessary to minimise audit risk and keep their company safe.

3. Recognise the consequences of non-compliance

There are both tactical and strategic questions at play here, and manufacturers must make thoughtful business decisions around how to handle the level of VAT compliance requirements that their operations demand. Increased audit volume is coming, so the industry has to commit to effectively and efficiently meeting the ever-growing compliance obligations of e-invoicing and periodic reporting.

4. Regularly review your indirect tax strategy

Although you may have an indirect tax strategy in place, make sure to evaluate how effective your current strategy is, especially as requirements are undergoing significant changes in so many jurisdictions. Is your strategy sufficiently up-to-date to ensure it efficiently and accurately addresses current and upcoming compliance obligations and is scalable to seamlessly meet the rapidly evolving needs business will face tomorrow.

5. Use automation and cloud-based solutions

Digital identity verification and transaction management frees your organisation from regulatory friction and our intelligent solutions integrate with your processes to ensure valid and future-proof transactions.

Sovos helps you remain focused on your central business by reducing the friction of complex tax digitisation mandates. We take a future-facing approach to indirect tax compliance with intelligent tools that provide insights for a competitive advantage.

Learn about compliance solutions built for manufacturers!

 

Intrastat thresholds are value thresholds which decide if companies in an EU Member State qualify to file a return to tax authorities, based on their intra-community trading. These thresholds change annually, prompting businesses to conduct an annual recalculation to know their obligations.

This blog contains all the Intrastat reporting thresholds for 2024, as well as important information for businesses trading within the EU. It will be updated to reflect any changes as soon as they are implemented.

Level up your Intrastat knowledge with our handy Intrastat guide, which covers reporting requirements, returns and declarations, commodity codes, how Sovos can help and more.

What are Intrastat thresholds?

Intrastat thresholds are annual value thresholds that decide whether businesses must declare their intra-EU trades to the relevant national tax authorities.

While Intrastat is based on a European Union regulation, Member States have implemented the rule differently. As such, companies trading across the EU must be aware of the exemption threshold for each country they trade in – whether that’s acquiring or dispatching goods.

When a business exceeds the threshold in a Member State, it must continue to file Intrastat returns with the country until the applicable January-to-December period has concluded.

How can I calculate Intrastat thresholds?

Intrastat thresholds must be calculated each year as they change annually, and there are separate values for arrivals and dispatches.

To make it easy for your business, we have listed all the Intrastat thresholds below in a table – country-by-country. Find out whether your company needs to file an Intrastat return in EU Member States where you do business.

Intrastat thresholds in 2024

The current Intrastat thresholds have been in place since the beginning of the year. They are due to change again in 2025. For the current applicable thresholds for your business, view the table below.

The table will be kept updated with the latest threshold values.

Country Arrivals Dispatches
Austria EUR 1.1 million EUR 1.1 million
Belgium EUR 1.5 million EUR 1 million
Bulgaria BGN 1.65 million BGN 1.9 million
Croatia EUR 400.000 EUR 200.000
Cyprus EUR 270.000 EUR 75.000
Czech Republic CZK 15 million CZK 15 million
Denmark DKK 22 million DKK 11 million
Estonia EUR 700.000 EUR 350.000
Finland EUR 800.000 EUR 800.000
France No threshold No threshold
Germany EUR 800.000 EUR 500.000
Greece EUR 150.000 EUR 90.000
Hungary HUF 250 million HUF 140 million
Ireland EUR 500.000 EUR 635.000
Italy EUR 350.000 (goods)
EUR 100.000 (services)
No threshold
Latvia EUR 330.000 EUR 200.000
Lithuania EUR 550.000 EUR 400.000
Luxembourg EUR 250.000 EUR 200.000
Malta EUR 700 EUR 700
Netherlands The Netherlands have abolished the Intrastat threshold. Intrastat has become a report to submit “on demand” of the Dutch authorities. The Netherlands have abolished the Intrastat threshold. Intrastat has become a report to submit “on demand” of the Dutch authorities.
Poland PLN 6.2 million PLN 2.8 million
Portugal EUR 400.000 EUR 400.000
Romania RON 1 million RON 1 million
Slovakia EUR 1 million EUR 1 million
Slovenia EUR 200.000 EUR 270.000
Spain EUR 400.000 EUR 400.000
Sweden SEK 15 million SEK 4.5 million
United Kingdom GBP 500.000 GBP 250.000

Intrastat threshold exemptions and exceptions

Businesses that trade within an EU Member State but at figures lower than those listed in the above table are not required to file Intrastat returns. There are additional nuances that exist on a country-by-country basis that may change the obligations of a company.

The Netherlands removed its threshold in 2023. Its tax authorities will notify taxpayers subject to submitting Intrastat returns. They monitor intra-community transactions performed by domestic taxpayers monthly.

Italy and France differ from other countries as it has combined Intrastat returns and ECSL returns into a single declaration.

It can be difficult to stay on top of Intrastat, especially with the variety among countries, but Sovos can help. Contact our team of experts to find out how we can assist.

If you are interested in learning more about European VAT compliance, download our free eBook.

How Sovos can help with Intrastat

Sovos’ Advanced Periodic Reporting (APR) is a cloud solution. It mitigates the risks and costs of compliance, futureproofing and streamlining the handling of your periodic reporting – including Intrastat.

Our solution automates, centralises and standardises the preparation, reconciliation, amendment and validation of summary reports to make meeting your obligations simple.

Intrastat is an obligation created in 1993 that applies to certain businesses that trade internationally in the European Union. Specifically, it relates to the movement of goods – arrivals and dispatches – across EU Member States.

The requirements of Intrastat remain similar across the EU, though certain Member States have implemented rules differently. As a result, it can be confusing when trading cross-border in the region.

From reports and returns to thresholds and specific codes, knowing what applies to your business and how to comply is important. Consider this your go-to guide to understand Intrastat rules, requirements, reporting and terminology.

Intrastat reporting

Intrastat reporting largely involves statistics but does occasionally require fiscal data. The information needed depends on the threshold of the EU Member State that your business is established within.

The mandatory data in Intrastat reports were originally regulated by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 638/2004, which is no longer in force, though it also lists optional elements for reporting consistency across the EU. Typical data requirements included:

In 2022, a project for the modernisation of Intrastat was introduced, Regulation (EC) No 638/2004 was abolished, and a new Regulation 2019/2152 entered into force. In addition to the data mentioned above, it made the following information mandatory in all Member States:

Optionally, Member States can also opt to ask for:

Intrastat return

An Intrastat return, also known as an Intrastat declaration, replaced customs declarations in 1993 to serve as the source of trade statistics within the European Union.

These returns provide the European Commission, as well as EU National Customs Authorities, with detailed insights into the goods being traded in the European Union. Due to the information required in the declarations, authorities can identify the kinds of goods that are circulating, as well as the volume of such goods.

If a company does not submit Intrastat returns when qualifying to do so it might be liable to hefty fines.

It’s important to understand how Intrastat works with other compliance obligations in general, such as submitting VAT returns, recapitulative statements (EC Sales Lists) and, notably for e-commerce sellers in the EU, schemes like Union OSS.

Do I need to submit an Intrastat return?

Intrastat returns are required when your business dispatches goods to or acquires goods from another EU Member State when the value exceeds the country’s threshold. Each Member State sets the deadline for the submission of declarations to its respective national tax authority.

In Germany, for example, applicable businesses must report every month, with each declaration required within 10 days after the end of the reporting period ending. This can be done online or through the Germany statistics authority portal.

Your business should check the value of goods traded within EU Member States for the past year to see whether they exceed national thresholds.

Intrastat thresholds

Qualifying thresholds dictate whether a business must register for Intrastat or not. These thresholds must be calculated each year, with each EU Member State having its own figure that changes annually.

When a threshold is exceeded in a country, businesses should continue to file Intrastat returns until the applicable January-December period is complete.

Read our blog for a comprehensive Intrastat threshold table containing each country’s qualifying figure.

Intrastat numbers

Otherwise known as commodity codes or Combined Nomenclature (CN), Intrastat numbers are part of a system allowing authorities to identify the types of goods traded across the European Union. The requirements for Intrastat numbers are largely the same across EU Member States, with just a few exceptions.

These numbers, or codes, are part of an eight-digit system that is comprised of Harmonized System (HS) codes and EU subdivisions. They contain complete nomenclature for the description of goods and are subject to annual revisions, ensuring they are up to date with technology and trading patterns.

The European Commission published the Intrastat numbers for 2023 in October 2022.

How Sovos can help

Sovos’ SAP Framework for periodic reports including Intrastat takes care of the extraction of data required to generate periodic reporting for businesses. Sovos’ solution generates compliant Intrastat reports by extracting data from required SAP modules. Using SAP with this add-on provides a framework for periodic returns including Intrastat, EC Sales Lists and SAF-T.

In turn, this increases the ease of compliance and reduces the risk of penalties from incorrect filings – producing cost and time savings for your business.

Speak to our team about how we can help with Intrastat compliance.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Intrastat still required after Brexit?

Intrastat returns are still required by businesses registered for VAT in the UK, even after Brexit, with respect to supplies of goods from the EU into Northern Ireland and vice-versa.

Who needs to file Intrastat?

Businesses in the EU that trade goods with other EU countries – whether they’re dispatched or received – need to file Intrastat returns if the annual trade value exceeds the applicable country’s threshold.

What is Intrastat reporting in Europe?

Intrastat is a system which allows the European Union to track traded goods between its Member States. It was devised to replace customs reporting on the movement of goods within the EU, which stopped in 1993.

What is an Intrastat code?

Intrastat divides goods into categories that are identified by eight-digit codes. These categories are typically referred to as Intrastat codes, commodity codes or Combined Nomenclature (CN).

 

Want to learn about EU VAT compliance? Our Introduction to EU VAT is a great place to start. We also have specific guides to help you understand important EU tax requirements, including the EU VAT e-commerce package and VAT between European countries.

Sovos’ recent observations of audits by EU Tax Authorities are that Tax Officers are paying more attention to the contents of One Stop Shop (OSS) VAT Returns. They have challenged, and even excluded, companies from this optional scheme.

OSS VAT returns must contain details of supplies made to customers in each Member State of consumption by the taxable person. Supplies that need to be reported are as follows.

Non-Union scheme

Supplies of services to non-taxable persons taking place in the EU. This includes supplies of services taking place in the Member State of identification.

Union scheme

Supplies of services made to non-taxable persons taking place in a Member State in which the supplier is not established. This includes the intra-community distance sales of goods.

Additionally, a taxable person can also declare domestic supplies of goods for which they are a deemed supplier in the Union scheme.

OSS VAT Return exemptions

A taxable person might be excluded by the Member State of identification from the scheme for several reasons. Considering the most common reasons, it’s important to note the following:

Let’s look at two case studies to further demonstrate the above.

Frequency of OSS VAT Returns

A taxable person submits a quarterly OSS return and pays the VAT owed by the last day of the month, following the end of each quarter. If they have not sold any goods in the EU during a tax period, they should submit a nil return.

OSS VAT Return deadlines

Taxable persons must submit their quarterly OSS VAT returns according to the following schedule.

If the due date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, the deadline is not moved to the next workday.

Case Study 1

A company, established and VAT registered in Spain, applied to the optional OSS Scheme under the Union scheme.

This company has an e-commerce store and customers can request delivery to their premises in any EU Member State. Under the terms and conditions on the website, the company clarifies that this channel is only for private individuals.

However, during an audit carried out by the German Tax Authorities, it has been noticed that some supplies are carried out in favour of business customers.

In some cases, the business customers have just shared their company name. In other cases, the companies have included their German VAT number in the purchase order on the internet (e.g. under “Additional comments”) and this information has been included on the invoice issued by the Spanish company.

Under these circumstances, the German Tax Office has provided the Spanish company with a warning as:

Case Study 2

A company established and VAT-registered in Turkey applied to the optional OSS Scheme under the Union scheme in Slovakia.

This company has an e-commerce store and customers request delivery from Slovakia, where the main supplier of the Turkish company is located, directly to their premises in any EU Member State.

Due to financial issues, the Turkish company has not paid its VAT liabilities despite submitting the OSS VAT returns on a timely basis.

Slovakian Tax Authorities have decided to exclude the company from the OSS Scheme.

Under these circumstances, the Turkish company:

What’s next for OSS?

The information about the supplies, available from EU Tax Authorities, will increase massively with the implementation of the Central Electronic System of Payment information (CESOP).

On 18 February 2020, the EU Council adopted a legislative package requesting payment service providers to transmit information on cross-border payments originating from Member States and on the beneficiary (“the payee”) of these cross-border payments.

Under this package, payment service providers offering services in the EU will have to monitor the payees of cross-border payments. They will have to transmit information on those who receive more than 25 cross-border payments per quarter to the administrations of the Member States.

As mentioned by the Tax Authorities:

Payment Service Providers in the EU will need to report cross-border payments on a quarterly basis as of Q1 2024, with the first report due by 30 April 2024.

Sovos’ recommendations

We suggest double-checking the quality of the data included in your OSS Returns to the possibility of exclusion from the scheme.

Sovos’ experts are at your disposal to support you through a pre-audit of your data or corresponding with the Tax Authorities. Contact our team for more information.

With the publication of Resolution 097-2023, the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration of Peru (SUNAT) has established the procedure for refunding the general sales tax (IGV) to tourists.

The establishment of this facility previously required a series of reforms and adjustments to Peruvian regulations. This regulation is preceded by Supreme Decree No. 226-2020-EF which modified the regulations of the General Sales Tax and Selective Consumption Tax Law to incorporate tax refunds for tourists – defined as foreign natural persons not domiciled in the country and who remain for no more than 60 days.

At the beginning of 2023, SUNAT published Resolution 005-2023 through which the regulation of payment vouchers and the rules on electronic issuance were modified. The administration changed the rules to allow the issuance of invoices to tourists entering the country.

This invoice can be issued at authorised establishments when goods are sold. In this case, the identification data of the purchaser will not be RUC but a passport.

SUNAT published Resolution 091/2023 in April 2023 to establish rules for the Register of Authorized Establishments (REA) to regulate the registration, permanence and exclusion of taxpayers for the right to return the IGV to tourists.

VAT Refund Procedure for Tourists

On the date of their departure from Peru, tourists who have not exceeded the authorised time of stay in the country can initiate the return procedure with the collaborating entity. Tourists can use the self-management kiosk or the mobile application, which is available inside international air or sea terminals.

The VAT refund procedure for tourists is as follows:

  1. The tourist must enter their identity document into the self-management kiosk or the mobile application. It must be the same one provided for their TAX FREE records. In the case of the mobile application, they must scan the QR code.
  2. Select the certificates that correspond to the goods that the tourist bought and is taking abroad.
  3. The system will assign the channel: red or green.
  1. If the information is validated, the system generates the return request.

The payment to the credit or debit card will be made within five calendar days from the request being registered, discounting the commission that the collaborating entity charges for this service.

Checkpoint Enabled

The checkpoint has been enabled since 2 May 2023 in the pre-boarding control area on the first floor of the Jorge Chávez International Airport.

Seeking more information on this change in Peru? Contact our team of tax experts.

Refer to this page about tax rules in different countries if you’d like to learn more.

The Ledger of Economic Operations (Libro Registro de Operaciones Económicas), also known as LROE, is a main compliance element of the Batuz tax control system. This system is under implementation in the province of Bizkaia, located in the autonomous Basque community in Spain.

Taxpayers under the Batuz mandate must comply with both TicketBAI and LROE obligations. While TicketBAI applies to invoice issuance, LROE rules require taxpayers to electronically record and report data on income, expenses and other fiscally relevant information to the tax authority in a structured format.

Regardless of size or business volume, individuals engaged in economic activities and organizations must meet LROE requirements if subject to Bizkaia regulations on Personal Income Tax, Corporate Tax or Non-Resident Income Tax for permanent establishments. The rule will come into effect on 1 January 2024 and includes taxpayers currently subject to Bizkaia’s SII (Immediate Supply of Information) mandate.

What is LROE reporting?

LROE is the electronic ledger where taxpayers must document several economic activities and report such financial information to the tax authority. Individuals engaged in economic activities report this information via model 140, while companies use model 240.

For compliance with LROE, taxpayers must record and transmit their sales, purchases and other financial data in a structured XML format according to legal technical specifications. Taxpayers can send the data in the ledger either through webservices or manually uploaded via the portal provided by the Bizkaia Tax Authority.

The LROE structure

The structure of LROE information for companies and non-resident taxpayers with permanent establishment (model 240) is comprised of the following:

  1. Chapter of invoices issued
  2. Chapter of invoices received
  3. Chapter of investment goods
  4. Chapter of certain intracommunity operations
  5. Chapter of other information with tax significance
  6. Chapter of accounting movements

Certain chapters also contain subchapters. The chapter of issued invoices, for example, has a subchapter of issued invoices with guarantor software which requires transmitting data from invoices generated using TicketBAI.

In the case of Bizkaia, as taxpayers do not need to submit the TicketBAI XML (generated with the invoice) directly to the tax authority, they will send this data via the LROE subchapter in a specific TicketBAI field.

Batuz LROE submission deadlines

The deadline to submit the LROE files to the tax authority varies according to the type of taxpayer under the obligation.

The general deadline is quarterly. Taxpayers must report the data from when the transaction is carried out until 25 April, 25 July, 25 October, or 25 January – depending on the specific quarter.

The deadline for companies under the Bizkaia SII obligation to submit LROE records is four days from the operation’s completion, in line with the general SII deadline. The SII obligation will be considered fulfilled by submission of the LROE.

Penalties for non-compliance

Failure to comply with the requirement to keep and submit LROE records electronically will result in a monetary fine. The proportionally calculated penalty is 0.5 percent of the transaction amount the taxpayer failed to report, with a quarterly minimum of 600 EUR and a maximum of 12,000 EUR.

What’s next for compliant taxpayers?

By using the TicketBAI invoicing system and reporting the LROE, taxpayers will provide information to the tax authority so that it can fulfil the third element of the Batuz tax control system.

The third element of Batuz entails the preparation of pre-filled VAT draft returns and Corporate and Personal Income declarations, which will be available for taxpayers in Bizkaia from 2024 forward.

Need more information about Batuz LROE or tax in Bizkaia? Contact our team of experts today.

For an overview about other VAT-related requirements in Spain read this comprehensive page about VAT compliance in Spain.

Significant inflation increases have impacted most of the world’s economies, with the UK still above 10% in 2023. This increase means a reduction in the purchasing power of consumers. Together with increases in the cost of raw materials, this has created uncertainty regarding growth of entire industrial departments and reduced profit margins for companies.

The above is the perfect environment for an increase in the value of ‘safe-haven’ assets, such as houses, gold and works of art and antiques.

VAT implications for art

When we think about fine paintings, elegant furniture or statues, these can be valuable financially and generally increase in value over time.

However, investing in art may have certain VAT implications and, in the near future, it is one of the areas included as part of:

Reduced VAT rates for art in Europe

Following Brexit, France’s art market has increased, with a 7% global market share and $4.7bn in total sales in 2021.

One of the key factors of France’s success is the favourable reduced VAT rate of 5.5% for works of art.

Italy has a reduced VAT rate of 10% for art under certain conditions, and in the UK, the rate is 5%.

Along with general VAT rates rules, several existing derogations allow certain EU Member States to apply lower rates. Specific geographical features, social reasons for the benefit of the final consumer, or general interest justify these lower rates.

This creates a complicated map of VAT rates for operators to navigate.

What will happen in 2025?

There are two significant VAT changes due in 2025 that could impact the art sector:

Simplification of VAT reporting and supporting documentation

Second-hand goods supplied under the margin schemes, works of art, collectors’ items and antiques will be subject to distance selling rules as of 1 January 2025. These rules make these goods subject to VAT in the Member State of arrival.

If works of art or antiques are not transported or dispatched, or if the transport starts and ends in the same Member State, the supply will be subject to VAT in the place where the customer is established, has their permanent address or usually resides.

This extension of the single VAT registration under the One Stop Shop (OSS) scheme will allow a company to register for VAT uniquely in one EU Member State and report their B2C supplies in quarterly VAT Returns

Harmonization of VAT rates

The EU Directive 2022/542 of 5 April 2022 (that amends previous Directives 2006/112/EC and EU 2020/285), on rates of value added tax, aims to “safeguard the functioning of the internal market and avoid distortions of competition“. The Directive will enter into force on 1 January 2025.

This will require the application of the standard VAT rate to art. This potential change has already raised some concerns in the art market in France.

Italy views this change as an opportunity, with Undersecretary for Culture Vittorio Sgarbi saying that Italy intends to implement the EU directive that reduces VAT on the import of works of art from 10% to 5%.

The changes are ongoing and we will keep you updated on developments to art VAT rates across Europe as they unfold.

 

Need to discuss reduced VAT rates for art in Europe? Speak to our team of tax experts about how the upcoming changes could affect your business.

5 Questions to Ask Yourself

Important NoteThe Finance Law for 2024 is presently in draft form and remains subject to ongoing modifications prior to adoption. Our blog, France: B2B E-Invoicing Mandate Postponed, is promptly updated whenever there are changes to the rollout of the French mandate .

 

Tax compliance in France is already complicated. New e-invoicing and e-reporting regulations being introduced by the DGFIP will mean companies doing business in the French Republic face some of the most onerous compliance obligations of all VAT jurisdictions. 

One significant change for many businesses will be the need to use Partner Dematerialization Platforms, also known as PDPs. The role of a PDP is highly specialised. Indeed, strict legal requirements and technical specifications must be met to become a registered PDP. 

The timeline affecting all businesses is clear. However, depending on your industry, you may need to rely on a PDP to ensure you’re fully compliant with the new requirements. Key industries include: 

Companies that need to use a PDP to achieve compliance with the French mandate face an additional, critical decision in what is already a complex new process to navigate. The need for a PDP raises the stakes, making it crucial to have dependable answers to the following: 

We’ve created a rundown of key questions to consider when choosing a PDP. 

1. Can your PDP cope with the growing compliance obligations of these new e-invoicing processes?

In addition to the existing requirement for B2G invoices (Public Procurement), the French Mandate reform will require B2B invoices to be exchanged electronically. As each B2B e-invoice is progressed, its status will shift. There are 14 status possibilities that need to be communicated between trading parties. Of these 14, 4 must also be automatically reported to the tax authority platform. The result will be a huge amount of additional data flowing in multiple directions. 

Additionally, the transaction details of B2B cross-border sales and purchases – excluding non-EU imports of goods – and B2C sales and payment data for Services Sales must be reported electronically to the tax authority. 

Meeting these processing and capacity demands will be a significant undertaking for solution providers. For context, 100 million B2G e-invoices are processed annually. With the addition of B2B e-invoicing to the French mandate, this number will now be in the billions. 

Why does this matter? 

You want to be able to trust that your PDP can cope with increased capacity and processing needs as well as evolving compliance requirements. You want to set yourself up for success for France as well as to deal with the growing obligations across Europe and beyond. 

 

2. The only constant is change – is your PDP equipped to handle France’s e-invoicing regulations as these evolve?

The French Mandate is part of a global trend towards tax digitization. E-invoicing mandates are constantly changing, being modified and updated. 

Take Italy, for example. Since January 2019, the e-invoicing mandate has been revised over 40 times. 

The French tax authority has already released four versions of the upcoming French Mandate  specifications and these will continue to evolve. Will your chosen software solution be robust enough to handle these changes so they don’t negatively impact your business? By asking the right questions, you may find that some aspiring PDPs, who also happen to be existing e-invoicing providers, are out of their depth. 

On top of this, there’s the EU-wide VAT in the Digital Age initiative and the changes it will bring. Your future PDP must have the bandwidth and agility to keep up with the inevitability of these future developments. You will also need to consider whether this PDP can take care of your compliance needs beyond France too. 

Trust is everything. A seasoned partner with experience navigating and solutioning for diverse e-invoicing obligations is important for your business. As government interest in business data grows, it’s essential to avoid blind spots, often created by complex supply chains, across multiple countries, within and beyond the EU. You’ll need a holistic view of your data that’s broader than e-invoicing and CTCs (continuous transaction controls). Think SAF-T and the other domestic obligations you face, alongside compliance challenges like VAT determination and periodic reporting. 

If you’re also doing business beyond France, these need your attention too. 

 

3. Are you aware of the total impact not meeting increasingly strict compliance requirements can have?

Let’s be clear. Despite what you may have heard about France’s e-invoicing mandate, this is not more of the same. 

Yes, electronic invoice requirements used to be relatively manageable. They needed to be readable and unalterable, providing clear proof of the original supplier’s identity. 

The scheme that will be introduced with France’s mandate complicates matters, adding requirements for: 

Failure to meet the exact stipulations of the reform will result in invalid invoices. 

Without legally valid invoices, not just VAT collection and VAT recovery are jeopardised: This would impact your company revenues and your trading partners, creating cash flow and profitability risks. 

Make no mistake, the commercial and reputational impact of not meeting these minimum requirements are even more significant than the potential penalties. 

  

4. Are you 100% confident of e-invoicing continuity?

French companies may be used to correcting e-invoice errors at a later date, but soon that will no longer be an option. The mandate ushers in continuous transaction controls, so any data or syntax errors will be glaring. If problems arise with e-invoicing, it won’t be possible to revert to paper or PDFs producing a significant cash flow risk for suppliers. E-invoices must be correct and compliant first time, every time. 

Reliance on an experienced and knowledgeable PDP for e-invoicing and associated compliance obligations doesn’t just join the dots in your data. It makes good business sense. 

  

5. Network size will no longer matter – is your would-be PDP saying otherwise?

For traditional e-invoicing, a large business network has been a supply chain advantage. A large network allows any one business to connect with a multitude of suppliers and buyers that choose to automate billing and invoice payments. 

However, the interoperability requirements of the upcoming mandate erode the power of network size. Every supplier and buyer will need to connect through France’s e-invoicing system (Portail public de facturation or PPF) either directly, or indirectly through a PDP. Giving you more freedom when selecting the right PDP for your business. 

While each registered PDP is required to cover both inbound and outbound invoice flows, they’re not required to cover all 36 specific use cases mentioned in the official documentation so far. Each use case needs an adapted treatment, which creates complexity that PDPs must address. 

It’s important to ask any PDP you’re considering about their plans to address these use cases and any future ones that could arise as requirements evolve. 

 Looking for a PDP you can genuinely trust to take care of the complex obligations you face due to France’s upcoming e-invoice mandate?

Our experts remain close to the requirements of the French Mandate. Especially as these evolve. Make it easy for yourself; connect with us.

Speak to us about our future-proof tax compliance solution, for the French Mandate and beyond, or download our deep dive guide on preparing for France’s mandatory continuous transaction controls.

Argentina has recently expanded its perception VAT (Value Added Tax) collection regime to ensure efficient tax administration. It has included selling food and other products for human consumption, beverages, personal hygiene, and cleaning items under its scope.

The Argentinian Federal Administration of Public Revenue (AFIP) established this through Resolution No. 5329/2023 in early February 2023.

The new resolution aims to further expand the regime known as “Régimen de Percepción del Impuesto al Valor Agregado” to the categories related to food and other products for human consumption, beverages, personal hygiene, and cleaning items.

Taxpayers who issue invoices concerning these provisions must ensure compliance with the document data requirements, used as evidence of the collection for the final VAT calculation. This will be further discussed in this article.

Scope of the VAT Collection Regime

The VAT Collection Regime in Argentina is a scheme by which the seller, designated as “Collection Agent”, charges the buyer an amount additional to the sale price. As a result, the supplier will charge the fee on top of the purchase value, which includes the price and the VAT.

This new regime obliges VAT-taxable persons to act as collection agents when selling food products for human consumption, beverages, personal hygiene and cleaning items. A few exceptions include meats, fruits and bread made exclusively from wheat flour, among others. Taxable people registered for VAT purposes will also be subject to this regime when acquiring said products.

Applicable rates

 The collection regime will only apply when each transaction amount exceeds ARS 3000.

The fee amount is determined by applying 3% to the net price of the operation resulting from the invoice or equivalent document.

This percentage will be 1.50% in the case of operations taxed with a rate equivalent to 50% of the general VAT tax rate.

Reporting and invoices as proof of perception

The information and payment of the perceptions carried out under this regime will be reported through the Withholding Control System (SICORE), using code 602.

The resolution also establishes that the only valid document to prove the payment of the perceptions will be the invoice or equivalent document (issued under the current invoicing regulations). The document will record the amount received in a discriminated manner and with express mention of this regime.

Those taxable persons using “Fiscal Controllers” documents of “New Technology” to comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph must use the section “Other Taxes” on the document.

 Implementation date

The collection regime will be applicable for taxable events perfected as of 1 April 2023. As a result, sellers of food and other products for human consumption, beverages, personal hygiene and cleaning items will charge the buyer an additional 3% or 1.5% as appropriate on the sale price according to the applicable fee.

Need to ensure VAT compliance in Argentina? Get in touch with our tax experts.

Update: 8 March 2023

South Korea has recently approved a tax reform which introduces several measures for 2023, among which is the possibility of issuance of self-billing tax invoices.

This tax reform amends the current VAT law to allow the purchaser to issue invoices for the supply of goods and services.

However, this will only be allowed in specific circumstances, such as when the supplier cannot issue the invoice. The purchaser can claim a deduction for the related input VAT by issuing a self-billing invoice.

Therefore, issuing self-billing invoices for VAT-exempted supplies of goods and services will not be permitted. However, the issuance of self-billing invoices by the purchaser depends on confirmation from a district tax office.

What’s next?

This amendment will enter into force and apply to all supplies of goods and services from 1 July 2023.

This South Korean tax reform will expand the transactional scope of the country’s e-invoice issuance and continuous transaction control (CTC) reporting system (e-tax invoicing), as the transactions in the scope of e-tax invoicing are generally the same as those in the scope of VAT invoicing.

Interested in learning more about e-invoicing in South Korea? Contact a member of our expert team today.

 

Update: 17 January 2021 by Selin Adler Ring

The South Korean E-invoicing System in a Nutshell

Collection of real-time fiscal data is becoming one of the core public finance decision making tools. Transactional data provides a timely and reliable overview of the business sector, enabling governments to rely on analytical data in the decision-making process.

This is what has led many governments to adopt CTC regimes that require taxpayers to transmit their transactional data in real/ near-real time to government services. South Korea was one of the first countries to appreciate the benefits of a CTC regime and mandated reporting of e-invoice data to the government for certain taxpayers as early as 2011.

Mandate scope expanded

The year after the first implementation, the South Korean authorities expanded the mandate scope and the e-invoicing system became mandatory for more taxpayers. 2014 saw another expansion of the CTC mandate to reach its current scope.

The current system requires any business that is a corporate entity or an individual whose aggregate supply value for the immediately preceding tax year is KRW 300,000,000 or more to issue an e-invoice to the recipient of goods or services subject to VAT, as well as to report the invoice data to the government.

The South Korean e-invoicing system mandates the issuance of an e-invoice to the recipient and reporting of this invoice data to the government portal within a day of its issuance. Before e-invoices are transmitted, suppliers must digitally sign them with a PKI electronic signature. E-invoices are reported in an XML format to the National Tax Agency (NTS) Portal. Due to the near-real time reporting time-limit, the South Korean e-invoicing system falls under the category of CTC.

South Korea has implemented a comprehensive e-invoicing system from the beginning and as a result there haven’t been any major changes to the requirements or practices. This is a big relief for taxpayers in South Korea compared to other CTC jurisdictions where there are constant changes.

In addition to the benefits for taxpayers, a considered CTC regime is also less burdensome for the state as the implementation costs of the constant regulatory changes can be significant.

More and more governments are considering the adoption of CTC regimes and should look to South Korea as a success story for this approach which has worked well for both the government and taxpayers.

Take Action

Please get in touch to discuss how Sovos can help your business comply with CTC regime reporting in South Korea or other jurisdictions subject to e-invoicing mandates.

Northern European Jurisdictions: CTC Update

The European Commission’s VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) proposal continues to unfold with the latest details published on 8 December 2022. As a result, many EU countries are stepping up their efforts towards digitising tax controls – including mandatory e-invoicing.

While we see different approaches to initiate this transition across Northern Europe, the trend towards continuous transaction controls (CTCs) and e-invoicing mandates has accelerated.

Germany plans for e-invoicing mandate

Recent statements indicate that Germany is taking steps towards a B2B e-invoicing mandate, however, without a centralised reporting or clearance element – at least for now. During a VAT conference on 10 March, the Federal Ministry of Finance announced that a draft paper will be published in a couple of weeks for the introduction of the e-invoicing mandate.

It is worth noting that Germany had previously requested a derogatory decision from the European Commission to implement a mandatory e-invoicing regime, as announced by the Ministry of Finance in November 2022.

Sweden edges towards mandatory B2B e-invoicing

Sweden is another country where it would not be surprising to see an e-invoicing requirement emerge. The Swedish Agency for Digital Government (DIGG) has expressed the desire to implement mandatory e-invoicing in the country.

With the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish Companies Registration Office, DIGG has requested the government research the conditions for mandating e-invoicing in B2B and G2B flows, which would be added to the current B2G e-invoicing mandate.

The reasoning behind this request is that if the European Commission’s ViDA proposal is adopted, it will result in mandatory e-invoicing in cross-border flows. Therefore the national system should align for efficiency purposes. DIGG does not believe that alignment will occur voluntarily, but a mandate will be necessary.

Finland supports the ViDA package

In Finland, no mandatory B2B e-invoicing mandate is in place. However, buyers can receive a structured electronic invoice from their suppliers if requested. This regulation has been in effect since April 2020 for all Finnish companies with a turnover exceeding €10,000.

Furthermore, the Finnish government recently demonstrated their support of electronic invoicing by sending a letter to Parliament outlining its benefits. The government sees electronic invoicing as a means of increasing business efficiency and combatting VAT fraud through the ViDA package.

Lithuania introduces Peppol-based e-invoicing platform

Lithuania is laying the groundwork for the broader use of e-invoices. It has announced plans to build a technological solution that complies with the European standard for the transmission of electronic invoices.

The platform is expected to be available free of charge to businesses for at least five years and should be ready by September 2023. Additionally, the platform will meet Peppol Network requirements and comply with Peppol BIS 3.0.

Denmark enables automated e-invoicing via e-bookkeeping systems

Denmark has also been working on digitizing the business processes by implementing a new bookkeeping law. The Danish Business Authority has initiated implementing the Bookkeeping Act’s digital bookkeeping provisions by adopting draft executive orders for standard digital bookkeeping systems and their registration.

As a result, providers of standard digital bookkeeping systems must adapt their systems to the new requirements by 31 October 2023 at the latest. The new provisions stipulate that traditional digital bookkeeping systems must support the automatic sending and receiving of e-invoices in OIOUBL and PEPPOL BIS format.

While Denmark has not announced the final dates, it expects taxpayers to adhere to the digital bookkeeping rules between 2024 and 2026.

Speak to a member of our team if you have further questions about e-invoicing.

Update: 4 October 2022 by Enis Gencer

Northern Europe Continuous Transaction Controls Update

The recent EU Commission report on the VAT in the Digital Age Initiative indicates that continuous transaction controls (CTCs) will become more prevalent across Europe. The final report suggests introducing an EU-wide CTC e-invoicing system covering both intra-EU and domestic transactions as the best policy option. While Eastern European countries have been at the forefront of local implementations, acting swiftly and introducing CTCs, it’s also worth keeping an eye on some of the developments in Northern Europe.

Germany

Following the 2021 national elections, the new coalition government in Germany  identified  VAT fraud as a policy question. It announced its intention to introduce a nationwide electronic reporting system as soon as possible, which will be used for the creation, checking, and forwarding of invoices. Although there are no details about the nature of the system, discussions are ongoing with stakeholders from the private sector, mainly focusing on the implementation timeline and the government’s role in such a system.

B2G e-invoicing has been mandatory for invoices issued to the federal administration since 2020. The scope was expanded from 1 January 2022 to include state-owned authorities in Baden-Wurttemberg, Hamburg, and Saarland, with the next states joining in 2023 and 2024. Moreover, the IT Planning Council, the Central Body for the digitization of administration in Germany, issued the decision 2022/31  advising all contracting authorities to accept electronic invoices via the PEPPOL network by 1 October 2023 to connect the entire public area in a uniform manner.

Denmark

Denmark is also aiming to introduce new requirements to digitize the business processes of Danish companies. On 19 May 2022, the Danish Parliament passed a new accounting law requiring taxpayers to make their bookings electronically using a digital accounting system. The mandate will take effect gradually between 2024 and 2026, depending on the company’s form and turnover.

While the new accounting law doesn’t introduce any mandatory e-invoicing or CTC obligations, it is envisaged that the digital accounting systems must support continuous registration of the company’s transactions and the automation of administrative processes, including automatic transmission and receipt of e-invoices. The Ministry of Finance has been authorised to adopt rules requiring companies to register purchase and sales transactions with electronic invoices as the documentation of the transactions, which in practice would amount to an e-invoicing mandate.

The Danish Business Authority, Erhvervsstyrelsen, has prepared drafts for three executive orders concerning the new digital bookkeeping requirements. According to draft regulations, digital accounting systems are required to support the automatic sending and receiving of e-invoices in OIOUBL and PEPPOL BIS format. These systems must be able to share the company’s accounting data by generating a standard file, which is the Danish SAF-T Standard recently published by Erhvervsstyrelsen.

The draft regulations will be available for public consultation until 27 October and the requirements are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2023. There will be a conversion period until 1 October 2023 for digital accounting systems to comply with the requirements.

Sweden

Sweden is another country looking at introducing digital reporting requirements. The Swedish Tax Administration, Skatteverket, is considering different ways to ensure the correct collection of VAT while obtaining useful economic data from businesses. The project is still at an early phase, and while such requirements could mean introducing Standard Tax Audit File (SAF-T) requirements or a type of CTC, e-reporting, or e-invoicing, the tax authorities would still strive to implement a smooth system for businesses.

Latvia

The Latvian Ministry of Finance has been working on digitizing invoicing processes for a while. They conducted a public consultation and took into consideration opinions of companies and non-governmental organizations to find out the readiness to start using e-invoices in Latvia.

As a result, the Ministry of Finance prepared a report discussing the current situation and the implementation of e-invoices, and possible technological solutions. The report focuses on different e-invoicing systems, such as post-audit e-invoicing, centralised e-invoicing, and decentralised e-invoicing, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of such systems.

The report favours the PEPPOL BIS standard for the introduction of mandatory e-invoicing in B2B and B2G transactions and proposes the use of e-invoices must be defined as an obligation in Latvian regulations, setting a mandatory requirement for the use of e-invoices to start no later than 2025.

The Latvian government approved the report, and the necessary regulatory acts, hence implementation of technological solutions are expected to take shape in due course.

What’s next?

It’s clear that CTC initiatives are becoming increasingly popular among governments and tax authorities in Europe, with the Northern European countries starting to follow this trend, even if they seem to be acting more cautiously. It will be very interesting to see how and when these CTC projects take shape and be affected by the upcoming results from the EU Commission on the VAT in the Digital Age project.

Take Action

Need help with e-invoicing requirements? Get in touch with our tax experts.

 

 

 

 

 

Update: 2 November 2023 by Dilara İnal

Israel Extends CTC Implementation Timeline

On 23 October 2023, the Israeli Tax Authority (ITA) announced that it had extended the continuous transaction controls (CTC) implementation timeline to offer businesses more time to complete their technological development. According to the announcement, the ITA will allow the deduction of input tax from a tax invoice, even in the absence of an allocation number, until 31 March 2024.

The new Israeli invoicing framework will require businesses engaged in B2B transactions that exceed a specific threshold to obtain an allocation number. The first phase starts on 1 January 2024 for invoices exceeding 25,000 NIS. Businesses must ensure that their invoices include the allocation number to be eligible for input VAT deduction as of this date. In light of this recent announcement, buyers will receive an additional three-month period to comply.

It is important to emphasise that although the ITA has extended the time for input tax deductions, the clearance platform will be fully operational as originally planned from 1 January 2024. From this date, invoice issuers who will request allocation numbers will receive them.

Looking for more information on Israel’s invoicing developments? Find out more.

 

Update: 6 July 2023 by Enis Gencer

Israel Announces CTC Implementation Timeline and Guidelines

The Israel Tax Authority has released a set of guidelines encompassing technical details and other relevant information regarding the implementation of the Israeli Invoice model.

The guidelines state the new model will be a phased implementation that begins with a pilot program in 2024. A key objective of this new model is to address and mitigate the long-standing issue of fictitious invoices in Israel.

Israel invoicing model

Under the newly introduced Israeli Invoice model, taxpayers involved in B2B transactions which exceed a specific threshold will be required to obtain an invoice number. This will be done by contacting the designated tax authority service via APIs and sending the invoice information prescribed by the tax authority.

The guidelines define the set of information that must be reported to the tax authority, including:

Once acquired, the invoice number must be included on the tax invoice. Without this number, taxpayers will not be eligible to deduct input VAT. It is important to note that the tax authority reserves the right to not assign the invoice number if there is reasonable suspicion of any legal inconsistencies concerning the invoice.

Buyers can use the invoice number to access invoice details through the tax authority service. This feature is designed to optimise the process of incorporating the invoice into the taxpayer’s accounting system.

Implementation phases

The Israeli Invoice model will be a phased implementation, beginning with a pilot program in January 2024 for invoices exceeding 25,000 NIS (approximately 6,500 euros). During this phase, the tax authority can only reject the request for invoice numbers in cases of technical errors.

As implementation progresses, the threshold will be gradually reduced as follows:

Israel is quickly taking steps towards the introducton of its invoicing system by publishing technical details and its implementation timeline soon after introducing the system formally in February 2023. Taxpayers should now prepare their systems according to the legal and technical guidelines that the tax authority has recently published.

Looking for more information on Israel’s upcoming regulations? Contact our team of experts.

Israel: Progress on Implementing Continuous Transaction Controls (CTCs)

Update: 26 May by Enis Gencer

More details have emerged regarding the implementation of the continuous transaction control (CTC) model in Israel, which was announced to be introduced in the country in February 2023.

As we reported earlier, Israel’s government approved the 2023-2024 budget on 24 February 2023, setting the stage for the adoption of the CTC model. Since then, the proposal has gone through the standard legislative process and it has recently received approval from the Finance Committee, with some modifications.

New scope and timeline of CTC system

According to the latest announcement, the modified plan introduces a CTC e-invoice clearance model for invoices exceeding NIS 25,000 (approximately 6,500 Euros) in business-to-business (B2B) transactions. Under this model, invoices must be issued through the tax authority’s system and obtain real-time approval. Taxpayers will not be allowed to use unvalidated invoices for deducting input tax.

The implementation of the CTC e-invoicing model is scheduled to start in January 2024, and by 2028, the threshold will be reduced to NIS 5,000, thus covering smaller amount transactions.

Despite the short implementation timeline, it is important that the authorities publish regulatory and technical specifications in time for taxpayers to prepare their invoicing systems to fully comply with the new requirements by January 2024.

Find more information about Israel’s current e-invoicing system here.

 

Update: 14 March 2023 by Enis Gencer

Israel Closer to Introducing Continuous Transaction Control (CTC) in Tax System

Israel’s government approved the 2023-2024 budget on 24 February 2023 to introduce a continuous transaction control (CTC) model in its tax system.

This long-awaited move will have significant implications for businesses operating within the country. It is essential to know the changes that may impact your company.

Proposal for e-invoice clearance model

The new plan, prepared by the Ministry of Finance and approved by the government, envisages an e-invoice clearance model for invoices over NIS 5,000 (appx. 1300 Euros) issued between businesses. Under this model, invoices must be issued through a tax authority system and receive real-time approval.

The tax authority system will issue a unique number as proof of clearance for each invoice, which businesses can then use to deduct input VAT. The government has also proposed that the tax authority be entitled to refuse a request to assign a number and not clear the invoice if there is a reasonable doubt that the invoice is not issued legally.

While this plan is an exciting development, it is only the beginning of a long journey towards implementing a CTC model. The above proposal is currently only outlined in a budget document, which will be subject to further readings and approvals before the government can implement it.

Additionally, an amendment to VAT Law and the publication of technical details will be necessary to make it legally and technically enforceable.

For further information on the digitization of tax in Israel, speak to a member of our team.

 

Update: 9 April 2020 by Joanna Hysi

Israel on the Road to Continuous Transaction Controls (CTCs)

With the long-lasting problem of fictitious invoices in Israel, a move towards some form of mandatory e-invoice clearance might be the answer. After having been withdrawn once due to failing support, the idea of a continuous transaction control (CTC) model is being revived by the Israeli tax authority. The proposed model, similar to Chile’s e-invoicing system (clearance), would include a direct connection between the tax authority and businesses in real time for each transaction. The proposal, which is currently being reviewed with interested stakeholders, will be presented to the Knesset Finance Committee, with the hope of promoting legislation for implementing the planned reform measures as soon as a new government is formed.

Subject to final adoption in law, the core points of the reform are:

It’s an interesting observation that for years Israel appeared to be heading towards the EU approach of a post-audit system, yet recently they seem to have pivoted and be heading towards the more Latin American style of continuous transaction controls.

Either way, the Israeli tax authorities are now taking firm measures to combat VAT fraud, as to whether they go for a model similar to Chile, or something close to home in India or Turkey, we will have to wait and see.

Important Note: The Finance Law for 2024 is presently in draft form and remains subject to ongoing modifications prior to adoption. Our blog, France: B2B E-Invoicing Mandate Postponed, is promptly updated whenever there are changes to the rollout of the French mandate .

France will implement a mandatory B2B e-invoicing and an e-reporting obligation. Every company operating in France is affected. 

Electronic invoicing in France requires using a (partner) dematerialization platform. The already enacted legislation leaves the choice of which platform up to companies. 

Should you use the public platform (‘PPF – Portail Public de Facturation’, i.e. Public Invoicing Portal) or a third-party private platform (‘PDP – Plateforme de Dématérialisation Partenaire’, i.e. Partner Dematerialization Platform)? And which organisation registered as a PDP should you opt for? 

There is a lot to consider – including the type of invoices, data management, customer/supplier relations, transmission, functionalities, and more – this blog will help you make a decision. 

The electronic invoicing process includes formatting, controlling, reporting, routing tracking, transactions, whether between trading parties (domestic B2B e-invoices) or with the PPF (domestic B2B e-invoices, cross-border B2B sales and purchases, B2C sales, payments received on services). In this respect, PDPs are essential. 

French legislation allows companies to choose their dematerialization platform for submitting and/or receiving domestic B2B invoices and reporting transactions.  A public solution exists, the PPF, alongside which other PDPs position themselves. 

What parameters should you consider when choosing a dematerialization platform? What are the conditions for becoming a PDP and when will they be operational? 

This blog discusses the elements that enable companies to understand the role of dematerialization platforms in managing electronic invoicing. If you wonder how to choose the right PDP for your organization, read this blog about Choosing the right PDP – 5 Questions to ask Yourself. 

1. Understanding the role of dematerialization platforms

The need to use a dematerialization platform is part of the electronic invoicing requirements, which come into force for business-to-business (B2B) transactions with go-live of the mandate. 

Electronic invoicing in France: who is affected? 

2. PDPs and electronic invoice formats

An electronic invoice must be delivered in a structured format, leaving it to the trading parties and their PDPs to agree on the standard. By default, PDPs must be able to process the three core set formats, UBL, CII, or UNCEFACT, with the obligation for the platforms to produce a legible version of each invoice, or Factur-X hybrid format (XML+PDF/A-3). 

PDPs may also offer to process any other structured formats (e.g. EDI formats such as EDIFACT), subject to acceptance by both the buyer and the seller. In both cases, PDPs will have to extract mandatory data from the issued e-invoice and map it into one of the core set formats – and then report them to the PPF within 24 hours of the e-invoice issuance. 

The corresponding flows can be exchanged under various communication protocols (EDI, API, etc.) 

3. Public platform or PDP?

Using a PDP isn’t mandatory from a legal point of view. However, using a PDP will be necessary for companies who want to exchange invoices in specific formats due to the specificities of the invoice flow (not supported by the PPF). 

The role of the public platform 

The PPF will be used for the obligatory transmission of invoice data to the tax authorities. 

It will manage the following for companies: 

The PPF performs other functions including management of the Central Directory (in which any registered company subject to VAT will be identified), data collection and transmission to the tax authorities, and retention of e-invoices. 

The advantages of Partner Dematerialization Platforms (PDPs) 

Like the PPF, a Partner Dematerialization Platform (PDP) ensures the submission of invoices and conversion into one of the three core-set formats – CII, UBL or Factur-X. 

But, contrary to the PPF, they will allow the exchange of invoices in any EDI format (other than the three core-set formats). 

The PDPs will allow the following: 

In addition to these mandatory functionalities, they may also offer the following: 

4. Conditions to become a PDP

A PDP is a platform registered and authorised by the French tax authorities. The official registration number will be issued based on an application file submitted by an operator. This file will have to document how the regulation requirements (decree and order published in October 2022) are met, particularly the ability to perform the functions expected of a PDP. These requirements are meant to be slightly revisited with a new decree/order to be published beginning of 2024 (more precisely, with the removal of connectivity tests with TA Platform as a PDP Registration Criteria) 

In addition to the guarantee provided by this registration (mainly from the point of view of compliance with stringent security rules), what distinguishes a registered platform from a simple dematerialization operator is the possibility of transmitting invoices to other dematerialization platforms (PPF or other PDPs). 

This registration is valid for three years and then must be renewed, based on audits to be regularly provided by the PDPs (first audit to be conducted no later than 12 months after the registration entering into force). 

The first certified PDPs should be announced in the beginning of 2024 and will be published on the tax authority’s website.  

Find out how Sovos can help you comply with e-invoicing regulations by speaking with one of our experts. 

It’s essential to stay on top of your company’s VAT requirements. This requires sound knowledge of the rules and what authorities expect of businesses. This includes dealing with supplies of goods and services outside standard VAT obligations.

Not every product or service incurs VAT. This is VAT exemption.

VAT exempt supplies of goods and services – what are they?

Some goods and services are exempt from VAT. This depends on the sector and country you are selling within.

For more information on how to comply with European VAT, download our free eBook or read our comprehensive guide to the EU VAT e-commerce package.

If a supply is exempt from VAT, it may be because the EU considers the goods or services as essential. VAT exempt supplies include:

VAT exempt businesses

If your company only sells VAT exempt products or services, your business operates differently. It is a VAT exempt business and:

For example, if a company solely provides education and training services in the UK, the government would consider it an exempt business. The above rules would apply.

Partly exempt businesses

In some circumstances, a business might be partially exempt from VAT. Partial VAT exemption applies to VAT-registered companies that carry out both taxable and VAT exempt supplies of goods or services.

If your business is partially exempt from VAT, you can still reclaim any VAT incurred when producing or acquiring non-VAT exempt goods or services you sell to customers.

Additionally, partially exempt businesses need to keep separate records. These records should cover VAT-exempt sales and provide details on how VAT was calculated for reclamations.

What is the difference between VAT exemption and 0% VAT?

VAT exemption is not the same as 0% VAT. No extra charges are added to the original sales price for either zero-rated or VAT-exempt supplies, but there are a few significant differences.

Unlike VAT-exempt supplies, zero-rated goods and services are part of your taxable turnover. Zero-rated supplies should be recorded in your VAT accounts – whereas, in some countries, businesses might only record non-taxable sales in regular company accounts.

Furthermore, in contrast to VAT exemption, you can reclaim the VAT on any purchases for zero-rated goods or services.

VAT rates on different goods and services

VAT rates and exemptions vary across the world, so we will use the UK as an example to illustrate the concept.

In the UK, most goods and services are subject to a standard VAT rate of 20%. However, some are subject to a reduced VAT rate of 5% or 0%.

Goods and supplies with a VAT rate of 5% include:

Goods and supplies with a VAT rate of 0% include:

VAT rates conditions

These reduced rates may only apply to certain conditions, or in particular circumstances depending on the following:

International trade

Continuing with our UK example, if you sell, send or transfer goods out of the UK, UK VAT is often not included as they are considered an export.

You can send most exports to a destination outside the UK with a zero rating if you meet the necessary conditions:

VAT exemptions are always changing. Don’t get caught out. Contact our team for advice on how your business should manage its VAT obligations if it is exempt from VAT.

The EU Commission’s VAT in the Digital Age proposals include a single VAT registration to ease cross-border trade.

Due to enter into force on 1 January 2025, the proposals are part of the commission’s initiative to modernise VAT in the EU. The single VAT registration proposals would mean only registering for VAT once across the EU under a wider number of in-scope transactions, reducing VAT administration costs and time.

B2C implications of the single VAT registration

The One Stop Shop (OSS) is a pan-EU single VAT registration. While optional, it can be used to report and pay the VAT due on Business to Consumer (B2C) distance sales of goods and B2C intra-community supplies of services in all EU Member States.

The scheme has been well-received and implemented by many companies. There are discussions of broadening the scheme to further simplify VAT in the region.

To further modernise the EU VAT system, the Commission has proposed an expansion of the OSS scheme for e-commerce to include:

Implications for online platforms selling into the EU

Despite rumours of altering the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) threshold, the current EUR 150 consignment threshold for imported B2C sales will remain  for the foreseeable future. The scheme will also stay optional for businesses.

However, IOSS will become mandatory for platforms facilitating non-EU distance sales of goods under EUR 150 for low value consignments. The EU will enhance the security of IOSS by granting EU customs authorities access to information about IOSS-registered businesses.

B2B implications of the single VAT registration

Regarding Business to Business (B2B) supplies, the EU Commission wants to harmonise the application of the extended reverse charge in article 194 of the EU VAT Directive. When implemented in the EU Member State, it applies to non-resident suppliers and reduces their obligation to register in a foreign country for VAT purposes.

Currently, only 15 EU Member States apply the article mentioned above – and not all in the same way.

Introduction of the new mandatory B2B reverse charge will be for certain sales of goods and services if transactions meet the following conditions:

Finally, the EU will abolish provisions in the VAT Directive regarding call-off stock arrangements from 31 December 2024. Beyond this date, new stock transfers under those arrangements cannot be affected as the simplification will not be needed. However, goods supplied under pre-existing arrangements can continue with the regime until 31 December 2025.

Are you equipped to tackle ever-evolving regulations?

Get in touch for expert help with easing your business’s VAT compliance burden, reviewing your Tax Code mapping and verifying how you can improve your cash flow. If you want to learn more about VAT in the Digital Age have a look at VAT in the Digital Age for digital reporting and e-invoicing or at this blog about the platform economy and VAT in the Digital Age.

In the past year, the Greek tax authority published a series of legislative acts introducing new requirements (the QR code and prefilling of VAT returns) and amending existing ones. It’s been more than three years since the rollout of myDATA as a voluntary scheme, but the system is far from complete.

myDATA is a broad and multi-faceted project covering multiple areas of compliance, ranging from e-invoicing to e-accounting and e-bookkeeping. The system, being quite complex, is still largely under development, technically and legislatively, and prescribed deadlines keep receiving push-back from businesses not ready to comply in time.

myDATA Deadlines Postponed

In response to continuous feedback from businesses and accountants the tax authority more than once has relaxed requirements, offered grace periods and imposed no associated penalties so far (except certain petty fines for 2021 related to recapitulative statements).

One of the latest amendments is the second postponement of transmission deadlines for certain, mainly historical, data which ought to have been reported in the past two years. The Ministry of Finance jointly announced a press release with the head of the IAPR and published a Decision amending the myDATA law (L. 1138/2020). The deadlines for transmitting certain data generated in 2021, 2022 and 2023 are postponed, giving businesses more time to collect and transmit data according to the myDATA specifications.

myDATA reporting deadlines 2023

For 2023, the obligations pertain to the transmission of historical data which took place in the last two years. Current data generated in 2023 may be transmitted within certain deadlines in 2024.

  1. Revenue, self-billing expenses, and proof of expenditure which took place in 2022: transmission must be by 31 March 2023
  2. Expenses and self-billing revenue which took place in 2022: transmission must be by 31 October 2023.
  3. Omissions (the obligation of the receiver to transmit the data that the issuer failed to transmit) and discrepancies (the obligation of the receiver to send discrepancies when the issuer sent incorrect data) which took place in 2022: transmission by the recipient must be by 30 November 2023
  4. Omissions and discrepancies which took place in 2021: transmission must be by 2 May 2023.
  5. Accounting (adjustment) entries for revenue and expense which took place in 2022: transmission must be by 31 December2023
  6. Retail FIM (electronic cash mechanisms) income via ERP or myDATA’s Special Registration Form: transmission must be by 31 October 2023. From 1 February 2023 transmission of data must be directly through FIM.

myDATA reporting deadlines 2024

For 2024, the obligation pertains to upcoming data which take place in 2024. Current data generated in 2023 may be transmitted within certain deadlines in 2024.

  1. As of 1 January 2024: obligation for entities to transmit all the data in scope of myDATA which took place in 2024 in the standard deadlines as outlined in the myDATA Law
  2. Revenue which took place in 2023: reported by 28 February 2024
  3. Expense data, self-billing revenue which took place in 2023: transmitted by 31 March 2024
  4. Omissions and discrepancies which took place in 2023: transmitted by the recipient can be by 30 April 2024
  5. Accounting (adjustment) entries for revenue and expense which took place in 2023: reported by 30 June 2024 (the deadline for filling annual income return)

myDATA next steps

The tax authority’s intention with these changes is to provide more time for businesses who haven’t complied with the previous transmission deadlines to report the required data to myDATA. However, starting from January 2024 the tax authority is expecting businesses to comply with the required deadlines without providing a grace period, at least as of yet.

Certain major aspects of the myDATA system have been the center of much discussion among businesses, accountants and the authorities. This includes mandatory reporting of expense data and any penalties relating to 2022 and onwards which are currently left unregulated. However, the tax authority has announced that a decision regarding the penalties will be published in the next months.

Have questions about Greece’s myDATA requirements? Speak to our tax experts