Ensure VAT Compliance Within Global Supply Chains

Vat Services

Transforming global supply chains

From food distribution to automotive manufacturing and logistics, companies are distributing their supply chain activities around the world to reduce costs, expand into lucrative markets and launch new products faster.

165 countries worldwide levy a form of VAT. Each has its own set of rules for both compliance and reporting. From differences in local VAT legislation to evolving international VAT reporting trends, if you trade cross-border you’ll be subject to change. This may create new requirements for invoicing, VAT registrations and VAT reporting obligations.

Companies that ignore the importance of VAT compliance could easily erase the benefits of a global supply chain, disrupting operations and cash flow, and negatively impacting the bottom line in the process.

This is why VAT compliance needs to be a critical factor in supply chain planning.

Cross-Border Supply Chain Review and Transaction Mapping

A holistic view of your full business activity, mapped against the changing legislative, political and economic landscape, to deliver clarity to all functions within your business so you can trade with confidence.

Download our infographic for full details of our cross-border supply chain review and transaction mapping service.

Benefits of Sovos solutions for supply chain VAT compliance

Monitor 60+ countries to track the diverse range of emerging legal frameworks and evolving specifications

Fiscal representation through a network of local VAT representatives

Ensure invoices continue to flow, so your business and its supply chains run smoothly

Recover VAT compliantly and accurately through VAT reporting and refund

Support with local VAT registration requirements for cross-border business

Easy access to a maintained and full audit trail of accounts

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Protect global supply chains

Guidance to help with your tax strategy to ensure VAT compliance and maximise the benefits of an efficient global supply chain.

Understanding VAT Obligations: European Events

Global events are popular once again and conferences and exhibitions often create VAT registration obligations in different European Union Member States that your business operates in.

Navigating these complex place of supply rules can be challenging. Legislation varies country-to-country and the type of event you’re organising affects this. Download our helpful guide to understand what your VAT obligations are.

Place of Supply Rules

When determining where tax applies to an event, it’s important to consider the place of supply rules.

These can be confusing and hard to interpret. When organising events and conferences, there are two basic rules to think about:

  1. Does the service being supplied fall under the general place of supply rules, in which case, if the supply is B2B, VAT is due where the customer is based. In this scenario if the customer is established outside the UK, then the customer has to account for VAT on behalf of the supplier in the country they are established in under the reverse charge rules in the EU or potentially equivalent if non-EU.
  2. Does the supply fall under any of the exceptions to the main rule? The most common example being admission to conferences and events whereby VAT is due where the event is held.

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As you can see, VAT and events is a complex affair.

Admission to events, exhibitions and conferences in the EU is subject to VAT in the country where the event takes place. In addition to admission, other considerations include stand rental, local suppliers, sponsorship packages and catering services.

Our guide covers these topics:

  • VAT registration – where should I register and what VAT rules should I consider?
  • Event organisers – what VAT liabilities apply and how does it affect clients?
  • Online events – how do the rules differ for online events, both for B2B and B2C?
  • Hybrid events – are these taxed differently?
  • VAT reclaims – what claims are possible and what VAT can I recover?

Tour operators margin scheme (TOMS)

In addition to these common concerns, the Sovos Understanding VAT Obligations: European Events guide also explores TOMS – the tour operators margin scheme.

If a business buys in and sells services such as hotel accommodation, passenger transport or excursions to its clients/delegates in its own name, TOMS may well apply. The supply of services that fall under the scheme receive a different tax treatment to most supplies of services. They can require the undertaking of a complex calculation.

Also covered is a summary of non-EU events and how to apply VAT when hosting an event outside of the European Union.

For example, some non-EU countries will apply similar rules to the EU and a registration may be

Needed. However the issues will often be complex and require a business to carefully consider the organisation of the event at the outset. VAT recovery in non-EU countries will also vary and not all countries will allow refunds to overseas businesses.  

Compliance peace of mind with a complete, global VAT Managed Service from Sovos

Whatever your VAT implications, Sovos has the expertise to help you navigate your global events and the complexities of cross-border VAT obligations. Our VAT Managed Services ease your compliance workload while mitigating risk wherever you operate today. In addition, we ensure you’re ready to handle the VAT requirements in the markets you intend to lead tomorrow.

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Tax in Romania: All you need to know about Romania’s VAT regime

Romania introduces measures to digitally transform its tax administration and close the VAT gap

Seeking to close its VAT gap, the Romanian tax authorities have been discussing the idea of implementing measures to combat the country’s ever-increasing VAT gap. After years of discussion, the country announced its Standard Audit File for Tax (SAF-T) initiative which began in January 2022.

Have questions? Get in touch with a Sovos expert on tax in Romania

Tax in Romania: Romania’s SAF-T reforms

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) introduced SAF-T in 2005, and Romania joins a long line of European Member States adopting this form of tax legislation.

From 1 January 2022, companies in the General Directorate for the Administration of Large Taxpayers list must report their VAT electronically to the Romanian tax authorities. Transaction and accounting data must be reported through Declaratiei Informative D406 (SAF-T Romania).

This move is not uncommon and follows the trend being seen across the EU with tax administrations requiring increasingly granular data in real-time in Italy, Spain and Hungary paving the way for pre-populated VAT returns.

For more information see this overview about SAF-T in Romania.

Romania SAF-T quick facts

  • D406 must be submitted electronically in PDF format with an XML attachment and electronic signature. The combined file size must not exceed 500MB for it to be accepted at the portal.
  • Submission deadlines can be periodically, annually or on demand.
  • There is currently a six-month grace period from 1 January 2022.
  • Asset information is expected to be required annually, though no date has officially been announced.

Continuous transactions control (CTC) reforms

The ANAF, Romania’s tax authority, has introduced the RO e-Invoice system. It is optional in the first phase, aiming as a first step at the relationship between companies and the state (B2G) and as a second step, the B2B transactions with high-risk products.

The ultimate goal, as is often the case when a tax administration wants visibility of more data so they can take steps to close their national VAT gap, looks set to be a system that ‘clears’ each supplier invoice prior to it being sent to a buyer.

In this respect, as of 1 July 2022, suppliers will be obliged to use the RO e‑Invoice system in B2B transactions, including high fiscal risk products. Moreover, Romania wants to expand the implementation of e‑invoicing to a broader economy as a next step.

Finally, the Ministry of Finance has announced the introduction of a mandatory e-transport system for monitoring certain goods on the national territory from 1 July 2022. The transportation of high-fiscal risk products must be declared in the e-transport system a maximum of three calendar days before the start of the transport, in advance of the movement of goods from one location to another.

The system will generate a unique code (ITU code) following the declaration. This code must accompany the goods being transported in physical or electronic format with the transport document. Competent authorities will verify the declaration and the goods on the transport routes.

For more information see this overview about e-invoicing in Romania.

Romania CTC quick facts

  • E-invoices must be submitted in XML format.
  • Use of the RO e-Factura system will be mandatory for high-fiscal risk products in B2B transactions from 1 July 2022. High-risk fiscal products include:
    • Vegetables, fruits, roots and edible tubers, other edible plants
    • Alcoholic beverages
    • New constructions
    • Mineral products (natural mineral water, sand and gravel)
    • Clothing and footwear
  • Suppliers of high fiscal risk products must use the RO e-Factura system even if their buyers are not registered with the system.
  • The transportation of high-fiscal risk products must be declared in the e-transport system.

Mandate rollout dates for SAF-T and CTCs

Romania SAF-T

September 2021: Voluntary test period began with D406T allowing taxpayers to become familiar with the data extraction and mapping requirements.

January 2022: Large taxpayers included in the Romanian tax authority’s list in early-2021 must comply with new SAF-T regulations.

1 July 2022: Large taxpayers added to the list in November 2021 must comply with the new SAF-T regulations.

1 January 2023: Medium taxpayers must begin submitting SAF-T data.

1 January 2025: Small taxpayers must begin submitting SAF-T data.

Romania CTC

March 2020: Pilot program launched.

November 2021: Voluntary participation of B2G scheme.

1 April 2022: Voluntary participation of suppliers in B2B transactions including high-fiscal risk products scheme.

1 July 2022: Mandatory e-invoicing for B2B suppliers of high-fiscal risk products and mandatory issuance of e-transport document for the transport of high fiscal risk products.

2023: Mandate expansion to other B2B flows expected.

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Romania’s SAF-T Requirements

Understand more about Romania SAF-T including when to comply, penalties, requirements and how Sovos can help

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Romania CTC Requirements

Understand more about Romania’s CTCs including when businesses need to comply and how Sovos can help.

How Sovos can help with tax in Romania

Need help to ensure your business stays compliant with the evolving VAT obligations in Romania?

Learn how Sovos’ solutions for Romania SAF-T reforms and e-invoicing VAT compliance can help companies stay compliant.

The IDC MarketScapes highlight Sovos as “dependable cloud tax software capable of supporting the compliance and regulatory demands on businesses of every size”

BOSTON – October 11, 2021 -Global tax software provider Sovos today announced it has been recognized as a Leader in both the “IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SaaS and Cloud VAT Software 2021 Vendor Assessment” and “IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Cloud-Enabled Sales and Use Tax Automation Software for Enterprise 2021 Vendor Assessment” reports. This marks the second time Sovos has been recognized as a Leader by the IDC MarketScape¹. According to the IDC MarketScape, Sovos is ideal for companies “looking for dependable cloud tax software capable of supporting critical tax compliance and regulatory demands.”  

IDC MarketScape is the premier vendor assessment tool for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. The report provides in-depth technology market assessments of ICT vendors for a wide range of markets. The comprehensive assessment of market competitors offers critical information needed to evaluate technology solutions.

“Sovos combines local expertise with a seamless, global customer experience across its full suite of compliance solutions,” said Kevin Permenter, IDC research director, financial applications. “They are a strong choice for companies of any size looking for cloud tax software and services to meet compliance and regulatory demands anywhere they do business.” 

A secure, reliable, scalable and flexible cloud platform for the demands of modern tax

The IDC MarketScape reports highlight Sovos’ strong cloud software platform, which is the world’s first complete solution for modern tax. It combines tax determination and reporting tools for sales and use tax, value-added tax (VAT) and other transactional taxes with modern, digital reporting and e-invoicing compliance software. The solution is supported by the proprietary Sovos S1 Platform, an architecture, development framework and cloud infrastructure built to deliver tax compliance software wherever and whenever businesses need it, without fail.

In addition, the report noted Sovos’ advanced APIs and its multiple physical data center approach, which recently achieved active-active status, delivering the security, reliability, scalability and flexibility businesses need to meet the escalating demands of modern tax. 

“Digital tax compliance is a complex problem every business needs to solve. That’s why our mission is to Solve Tax for Good® and why we’ve built the most complete solution available for modern tax through organic innovation and strategic acquisitions,” said Andy Hovancik, President and CEO, Sovos. “Sovos’ positioning in the IDC MarketScape reports reflect our ongoing commitment to ensure frictionless commerce for our customers everywhere they conduct business.”

The only scalable, end-to-end solutions for VAT and sales and use tax compliance

Governments across the globe – from Chile to India – are enacting complex new policies to enforce VAT mandates, obtain unprecedented insight into economic data and close revenue gaps – but every country writes its regulations differently. As a result, companies – from small and medium businesses to multinational corporations – are challenged to ensure compliance despite diverse VAT enforcement approaches. The IDC MarketScape highlights Sovos’ use of automation and advanced technology to provide continuous and real-time e-invoicing compliance. 

According to the VAT report, “multiple customer references cited Sovos’ capability with e-invoicing as one of the major benefits of choosing their solution.” 

For Sales and Use Tax for Enterprise, the report states, “Sovos’ Global Tax Determination Cloud scales horizontally to handle unlimited transaction volume. It delivers active-active clusters across globally distributed, secure data centers to enable differentiated reliability and no downtime, even in the event of a data center outage.”

Sovos was also named a leader in the “IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled Sales and Use Tax Automation Software for Small and Midsize Businesses 2021 Vendor Assessment.” This MarketScape report noted that “Sovos has flexible deployment options, with modern APIs, certified integrations, batch processing, and localized calculation.”

Accelerating local expertise and global reach

Sovos continues to expand its global footprint with expert teams around the world. In fiscal year 2021, Sovos completed nine acquisitions in six countries, an increase of more than 100% in mergers and acquisitions activity over the previous fiscal year. As a result, Sovos now has expert teams in 13 countries and supports customers operating in 70 countries. 

Read the IDC MarketScape Reports:

¹IDC MarketScape Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled Sales Tax and Automation Applications. IDC# US43263718e. January 2019.

About Sovos

Sovos was built to solve the complexities of the digital transformation of tax, with complete, connected offerings for tax determination, continuous transaction controls, tax reporting and more. Sovos customers include half the Fortune 500, as well as businesses of every size operating in more than 70 countries. The company’s SaaS products and proprietary Sovos S1 Platform integrate with a wide variety of business applications and government compliance processes. Sovos has employees throughout the Americas and Europe, and is owned by Hg and TA Associates. For more information visit www.sovos.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About IDC MarketScape

IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors. 

Media contact:
Leah Cotton on behalf of Sovos
leah@arpr.com
855-300-8209

Marketscape Report

Sovos Named a Leader in “IDC MarketScape for Worldwide SaaS and Cloud VAT Software”

Marketscape Report

Sovos Named a Leader in “IDC MarketScape for Worldwide SaaS and Cloud VAT Software”

Citing multiple customer references, IDC identified Sovos’ capability with mandated e-invoicing as a major benefit.

“Sovos combines local expertise with a global customer experience across its full suite of compliance solutions. They are a strong choice for companies of any size looking for cloud tax software and services to meet compliance and regulatory demands anywhere they do business.” – Kevin Permenter, IDC research director

 

Download The IDC MarketScape For Value Added Tax

Black Friday Countdown: Are You VAT Ready with OSS?

Time: 14:00 BST / 09:00 EDT 

Date: October 14, 2021

On 26 November, Black Friday presents another opportunity for retailers to drive e-commerce sales and boost revenue. Retailers will be working hard to prepare the best deals to entice shoppers, but do you know where you stand with VAT compliance in the EU?

In our latest webinar, learn how the new EU e-commerce VAT rules will apply to retail businesses ahead of this year’s annual shopping event. In addition, we’ll explain how this year B2C retailers can – for the first time in respect of goods – account for VAT on Black Friday sales in the EU using the VAT One Stop Shop (OSS) schemes.  These schemes can greatly simplify VAT compliance by removing the need to register for VAT in multiple Member States.

Join Consulting Services Director Andy Spencer and Strategy Programs Director Anna Higgins in this webinar to learn:

We will host a short Q&A session at the end of this webinar.

Register now

Need more information?  Sovos’ VAT managed service provides a full OSS service for your business. Let us handle the initial registration, monthly filling and any potential intermediary requirements. Click here to find out more.

Saudi Arabia - E-Invoicing

Saudi Arabia leads the way to continuous transaction controls in the Gulf

Saudi Arabia e-invoicing from December 2021

Saudi Arabia introduced an e-invoicing regime with a phased approach in December 2021. Having only introduced VAT on 1 January 2018, the country is already leading the way in digitizing tax compliance in the Gulf Region.

According to the finalised rules published by Saudi Arabia’s tax authority, Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) the go-live date of the second phase is 1 January 2023.

In addition to other requirements, Phase 2 also introduced integration with a digital ZATCA platform for continuous transaction controls (CTCs), requiring taxpayers to clear invoices ahead of transmission to buyers.

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Mandate Quick Facts

Phase 1 – Mandatory e-invoicing generation with post audit controls: Started on 4 December 2021

  • Applies to all resident taxable persons in Saudi Arabia.
  • Requires taxpayers to generate, amend and store e-invoices and electronic notes (credit and debit notes) across B2B, B2C and B2G transactions, including exports.
  • Businesses must generate e-invoices and their associated notes in a structured electronic format.
  • Electronic invoices and notes must contain all necessary information.
  • Any structured electronic format permitted.
  • B2C invoices must include a QR code.
  • All invoices must contain a time stamp.
  • Integrity of e-invoices is explicitly required.
  • Storage requirements same in both Phases 1 and 2. Documents can be stored on Cloud, a direct link to the online data must be available. In case the storage is outsourced, documents must be kept by a third party established within the territory of Saudi Arabia.

  • Suppliers must store e-invoices in a structured format regardless of how they’re exchanged with buyers.

  • Certain prohibited functionalities for e-invoicing solutions.

Phase 2 – CTC regime: Started on 1 January 2023, requiring taxpayers to transmit e-invoices in addition to electronic notes to tax authority ZATCA for clearance

  • A phased implementation approach based on taxpayers’ revenue.
  • Voluntary participation in Phase 2 before the taxpayer’s enforcement date arrives.
  • B2B invoices operate under a clearance regime, while B2C invoices must be reported on ZATCA’s platform within 24 hours of issuance.
  • All e-invoices must be issued in the mandatory XML format.
  • Tax invoices can be sent in XML or PDF/A-3 (with embedded XML) to buyers. B2C invoices must be presented in paper form. However, based on mutual agreement by the parties, B2C invoices can be shared electronically or through any other way where the buyer can read it.
  • A compliant e-invoicing solution must have the following features:
    • Generation of a universally unique identified (UUID) plus invoice sequential number.
    • Tamper-resistant invoice counter.
    • Some ability to save and archive e-invoices and electronic notes.
    • Generation of a cryptographic stamp for B2C invoices, a hash, and a QR code for each e-invoice and electronic note.

Important dates for e-invoicing in Saudi Arabia

Phase 1: 4 December 2021 – All resident taxable persons in the Kingdom to generate, amend and store e-invoices and electronic notes (credit and debit notes).

Phase 2: 1 January 2023 – Additional requirements for taxable persons to transmit e-invoices and electronic notes to the ZATCA. It will be a phased adoption starting with larger companies, with more gradually coming into the scope of the mandate. Companies can expect six months’ notice before the deadline by which they must comply.

INFOGRAPHIC

Saudi Arabia CTC Requirements

Understand more about Saudi Arabia’s continuous transaction controls including when businesses need to comply, phase one and two compliance and how Sovos can help.

How Sovos can help

Need help to ensure your business is VAT compliant in Saudi Arabia? Sovos serves as a true one-stop-shop for managing all e-invoicing compliance obligations in Saudi Arabia and across the globe. Sovos uniquely combines local expertise with a seamless, global customer experience.

The VAT Import One Stop Shop (IOSS)

Simplify EU VAT with IOSS in one single return

The Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) is here. Simplify your EU VAT compliance into a single VAT return – grow your sales in the EU, avoid fines and penalties and enhance the customer experience by removing unexpected fees for buyers.

Since its launch, we’ve been helping e-commerce businesses of all sizes make the switch to the new scheme. Our IOSS service provides you full access to our VAT compliance software solutions and a team of indirect tax specialists. Let us handle the initial registration, monthly filing and intermediary requirements so you can continue to focus on what you do best.

Speak to a VAT expert

What is IOSS?

Since July 2021, all goods imported into the EU, regardless of value, are subject to VAT. As of the same date, businesses selling imported goods valued at less than EUR 150 can now use IOSS to collect, declare and pay VAT to the local tax authorities in a single VAT return. IOSS simplifies your EU VAT compliance – unlock the full potential of the EU e-commerce market, maximise your cash flow, and provide an excellent customer service.  

In order to obtain a registration, non- EU businesses need to appoint an intermediary. They can then obtain an IOSS VAT registration number in the Member State where the intermediary is established.  

Full IOSS service

Let us handle the registration process, obtain a VAT number for your business and file the monthly IOSS returns. All included, no hidden fees.

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We act as your IOSS Intermediary

Non-EU businesses can only register for the scheme through an intermediary. We can act as your intermediary for you. 

Contact us

What are the benefits?

  • Goods move through customs faster – IOSS calculates and accounts for VAT ahead of time instead of applying upon import 
  • With an IOSS VAT registration number, the VAT is accounted for at the point of sale 
  • Reduced charges for customs clearance – without an IOSS VAT registration, import VAT will be due when the goods are cleared in the EU and there are likely to be higher customs clearance costs 

Quick Facts

  • The IOSS simplification is available to use now for any qualifying transactions 
  • The scheme requires additional record-keeping: businesses must retain more detailed records of transactions than previously
  • IOSS VAT declarations are monthly  
  • Businesses can correct previous IOSS VAT returns in the next one
  • Non-EU businesses may need to appoint an intermediary and obtain an IOSS VAT registration in the intermediary’s country of establishment in the EU
  • Depending on the nature of business activity/supply chains, non-EU retailers may need to report under the Union One Stop Shop (OSS) and non-Union OSS schemes. 
  • Businesses need at least one ‘standard’ VAT registration and possibly more due to warehouses or similar if they are to use Union OSS.  No other VAT registrations is needed for IOSS or non-Union OSS.

Penalties and Fines

Local tax authorities can issue penalties and fines to businesses if returns and payments are not submitted on time. In addition, repeated noncompliance can lead to a two-year exclusion from the scheme. Businesses would then need to register for VAT in all Member States where they import goods or have alternative arrangements in place to deal with the import VAT. 
 
Businesses that want to use IOSS may require an intermediary. If an intermediary is required you can’t do it alone. Our comprehensive service handles all your registration, filing and intermediary requirements.  

It’s time to get EU VAT compliance right with IOSS and Sovos

Our IOSS service gives you full access to our team of indirect tax specialists and VAT compliance software. Let us handle the initial registration, monthly filing and intermediary requirements so you can focus on what you do best. 

Contact us to speak to a VAT expert and learn how to get started. 

How Tax Compliance Impacts Supply Chain Globalisation

How Tax Compliance Impacts Supply Chain Globalisation: The VAT Effect in Europe and Beyond

VAT compliance throughout a global supply chain is paramount. It has never been more important to get right.  

165 countries worldwide levy a form of VAT. Each has its own set of rules for both compliance and reporting. 

Some governments are also now placing increased emphasis on indirect tax and changes to their tax regulations, with technology-enabled enforcement efforts.

Download this e-book for an in-depth look at the vital elements needed for today’s VAT compliance. There’s guidance to help with your tax strategy so you can maximise the benefits from an efficient global supply chain.

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Your VAT compliance strategy   

Tax shouldn’t impede growth, and it doesn’t have to if you have a proactive tax compliance strategy. So to minimise risk, VAT needs to be a critical factor in supply chain planning.  

In this e-book, we take a detailed look into crucial elements of VAT compliance, with clear explanations to inform your tax strategy and to also help you reap the full benefits of an efficient global supply chain. In detail, we look at: 

  • What factors should you consider in VAT compliance planning? These include import VAT, local supply of goods, intra EU deliveries, chain transactions and triangulation, VAT reverse charge, in addition to zero-rated vs exempt goods.
  • What are the impacts of these types of tax and transactions? How these types of tax and transactions affect your business, when they apply, and what you need to do to avoid noncompliance. 
  • What are the new and changed regulations and what do they mean for businesses? Many governments have dramatically changed their tax regulations, introducing continuous transaction controls (CTCs) and the Standard Audit File for Tax (SAF-T) so tax authorities can better detect errors in tax reporting, and also look for discrepancies. 

 The cost of getting it wrong 

Failure to comply creates both risk and consequences for businesses such as: 

  • Disrupting operations. Noncompliance can disrupt operations, putting supplier relationships and supply chain stability on the line. Consequently, goods may be delayed at customs borders goods may be delayed at customs borders if formalities are not complied with. 
  • Delays in VAT refunds. Businesses could have their VAT refunds delayed, tying up significant sums of money that could instead be put toward paying suppliers or investing in innovations. 
  • Fines and penalties. Errors can result in penalties or fines of up to 200% of VAT owed. This directly impacts the bottom line and also transforms VAT from a neutral to a hard cost. 

The right technology for the job   

VAT is becoming more complex and governments are digitizing indirect taxes. Therefore, businesses need to be armed with the right technology to simplify and streamline global tax obligations. 

In the ever-changing legislative environment, businesses must also be able to maintain both control and visibility of their global tax obligations effectively. They need to use insights to predict what will change next. 

With standardisation, automation and new levels of data, Sovos combines unparalleled regulatory expertise with technology that supports compliance by enabling:

  • Complete, continuous management of VAT determination and reporting, as well as business-to-government reporting in every country in which your business operates. 
  • Comprehensive functional and geographic coverage of VAT reporting, CTCs, compliance archiving, and determination around the globe. 
  • Integration with complex ERP, billing systems, POS, P2P and EDI systems as CTC and other VAT requirements create a much broader footprint on transactional and record-keeping systems. 

Contact us now and let Sovos help you reap the full benefits of an efficient global supply chain. 

Download the e-book

Portugal’s VAT Regime

Portugal pushes further ahead with VAT digitization

Back in 2019, Portugal passed a mini e-invoicing reform consolidating the country’s framework around SAF-T reporting and certified billing software.

Since then, a lot has happened: non-resident companies were brought into the scope of e-invoicing requirements, deadlines were postponed due to Covid, and new regulations have been published.

Get the information you need

Quick facts

  • Use of certified billing software is mandatory for the creation of all types of invoices (paper or electronic); this is understood to be the taxpayer’s ERP system. Non-resident companies with a Portuguese VAT registration have also become obligated to issue invoices and other fiscally relevant documents via a certified billing software, since 2021.
  • A QR code should be included in all invoices issued through a certified billing software. Technical specifications about the content and placement of the code in the invoice are available on the tax authority’s website.
  • A unique ID number (ATCUD) must be included in all invoices and fiscally relevant documents. The ATCUD is a number with the following format ‘ATCUD:Validation Code-Sequential number’.
  • Public entities must receive e-invoices whilst companies must send e-invoices since 1 July 2021. E-nvoices must be issued electronically in the CIUS-PT format and transmitted to the public administration through one of the available web services.
  • A qualified electronic signature or seal, or the use of EDI with contracted security measures is mandatory for all electronic invoices from 1 January 2024.
  • Billing SAF-T has monthly submission requirements and must be completed with the normal VAT return by the 5th (until the 8th during the year of 2023 due to a grace period) day of the month following the reporting period. The Billing SAF-T may be submitted via the e-fatura portal or through web services.
  • Accounting SAF-T: annual submission is mandatory from 2024 via the tax authority´s portal which will enable automatic pre-filling of the VAT IES´s Annexes.

Important dates

  • 1 July 2021: non-resident taxpayers required to use a certified billing software to issue invoices and other fiscally relevant documents.
  • Issuance of B2G e-invoices:
  • 1 January 2021: Phased roll out of mandatory issuance of e-invoices in the CIUS-PT format for large suppliers of the public administration.
  • 1 January 2023: Extended to include small and medium-sized businesses and postponed again in May 2023, still uncertain new deadline as pending publication of a new law.
  • 1 January 2022: QR code requirement implemented for invoices and other fiscally relevant documents issued through a certified billing software.
  • 1 January 2023: Unique ID number (ATCUD) is mandatory on all paper and electronic invoices.
  • 1 January 2023: Non-resident taxpayers required to submit Billing SAF-T monthly.
  • 2024 fiscal year: Mandatory annual submission of accounting SAF-T for residents and non-residents (first submission occurs in 2025 regarding the fiscal year of 2024)
  • 1 January 2024: qualified electronic signature/seal or EDI mandatory for electronic invoices.

Need help to ensure your business is VAT compliant in Portugal?

Sovos provides a complete VAT, SAF-T and B2G compliance solution for Portugal helping customers meet the demands of the digital transformation of tax and public procurement through a single provider. Sovos uniquely combines local expertise with a seamless, global customer experience.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) announced the finalised rules for the Saudi Arabia e-invoicing system earlier this year, announcing plans for two main phases for the new e-invoicing system.

The first phase of the Saudi Arabia e-invoicing system is set to go live from 4 December 2021.

With the mandate just around the corner, we’ve highlighted the latest news on a reform that is still evolving.

The Detailed Guidelines

The latest documentation communicated on the requirements was the Detailed Guidelines, published in August 2021. The Detailed Guidelines provided clarity on the following topics:

Overview of readiness for the first phase

The first phase requirements are not as complex as the second phase requirements that will be enforced from 1 January 2023.

The ZATCA has been successful in providing taxpayers with the necessary information. The go live date is set to go ahead as planned and a delay is not currently expected.

Take Action

Find out more about what we believe the future holds, download VAT Trends: Toward Continuous Transaction Controls. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep up-to-date with regulatory news and updates.

On 1 July 2021 the EU E-Commerce VAT Package was introduced. The package replaced existing distance-selling rules and extended the Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) into a wider-ranging One Stop Shop (OSS).

The implementation of the EU E-Commerce VAT Package was designed to simplify the VAT reporting requirements for sellers and improve the tax take for Member States.

Two months in: we take a look at how it’s going.

Delays and teething problems

There were unfortunately some initial delays and teething problems when the EU E-Commerce VAT Package was introduced, which is to be expected with the adoption of such a significant new system, but as with any new scheme these can be resolved over time.

Some examples include:

Issues with the import of goods

There are also issues associated with the import of the goods.

Some Member States disallow the import of certain categories of goods due to local restrictions e.g. foodstuffs, plants etc.

It’s sometimes unclear if freight forwarders have used IOSS or not and this could lead to repeated errors of underpayment or overpayment of VAT.

Some non-EU vendors are trying to avoid an IOSS registration by stating that the customer is the importer of record. Such practice happened before the introduction of IOSS but not always at the same level as it is now – and was not always spotted or queried.

However, since the introduction of the IOSS, some tax authorities, including Germany, are questioning such an approach on the grounds that the carrier who imports the goods is acting for the non-EU vendor and is not known by the buyer.

This means import VAT is due by the vendor who must then also charge German VAT. For cases that have already occurred there may be an issue with recovery of the import VAT, as the evidence required to support the deduction will have been issued in the wrong name (consumer).

It’s still early days for the EU VAT E-Commerce Package and initial teething problems are to be expected. One thing is certain, navigating these new VAT schemes is complex. Sovos is here to help and we’ll keep you updated on the latest regulatory changes.

Want to know more about simplifying EU VAT with IOSS?

Join our latest webinar on September 22, 2021 to learn how you can use the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) to simplify your EU VAT compliance and unlock the full potential of the EU e-commerce market.

Take Action

Still have questions about OSS and IOSS? Download our e-book to understand the implications of the 2021 EU e-commerce VAT package and ensure your business is ready by 1 July 2021 for the significant changes ahead

Simplify EU VAT with IOSS – Unlock the EU E-Commerce Market

Time: 3:00pm BST / 10:00 EDT 

Date: September 22, 2021

Join our latest webinar to learn how you can use the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) to simplify your EU VAT compliance and unlock the full potential of the EU e-commerce market.

Since July 2021, the low value consignment relief on small packages has been removed. From the same date, businesses selling imported goods valued at less than EUR 150 can now use IOSS to collect, declare and pay VAT to the local tax authorities in one single VAT return. IOSS simplifies your EU VAT compliance – making it essential to grow sales in the EU, avoid fines and penalties, and provide an excellent customer service.

Join Consulting Services Director Alex Smith and Senior Consultant Russell Hughes in this webinar to learn:

We will host a short Q&A session at the end of this webinar.

Register now

Need more information? Sovos’ VAT managed service provides a full IOSS service for your business. In addition to proving an intermediary service, we handle the IOSS registration and monthly filling. Click here to find out more. 

Back in 2019, Portugal passed a mini e-invoicing reform consolidating the country’s framework around SAF-T reporting and certified billing software.

Since then, a lot has happened: non-resident companies were brought into the scope of e-invoicing requirements, deadlines have been postponed due to Covid, and new regulations were published. This blog summarises the latest and upcoming changes.

QR Code

Introduced in 2019, the de facto implementation of the QR code requirement was delayed, and is now expected to be fully implemented by taxpayers in January 2022. A QR code should be included in all invoices. Technical specifications about the content and placement of the code in the invoice are available on the tax authority’s website.

ATCUD – Unique ID and validation codes

The ATCUD is a unique ID number to be included in invoices and is part of the content of the QR code. The ATCUD is a number with the following format ‘ATCUD:Validation Code-Sequential number’.

To obtain the first part of the ATCUD – the so-called ‘validation code’ -, taxpayers must communicate the document series to the tax authority along with information such as type of document, first document number of the series, etc.

In return, the tax authority will deliver a validation code. The validation code will be valid for the whole document series for at least a fiscal year. The second part of the ATCUD – the ‘sequential number’ – is a sequential number within the document series.

This month, the Portuguese tax authority published technical specifications for obtaining the validation code, creating a new web service. To access this web service, a specific certificate obtained from the tax authority is required and can be assigned to taxpayers or software service providers.

In addition, the tax authority has created a standard list of document classes and types, enabling the communication of document types in a structured format.

An ATCUD will be required in all invoices from January 2022. To be ready for the deadline, taxpayers must get the series’ validation codes during the last half of 2021 to apply in invoices issued in the beginning of 2022.

Obligations for non-resident companies

In April this year, Portugal clarified that non-resident companies with a Portuguese VAT registration should comply with domestic VAT rules. This includes the use of certified billing software for invoice creation, among others. These companies must also ensure integrity and authenticity of e-invoices. In Portugal, integrity and authenticity of invoices are presumed with the use of a qualified electronic signature or seal, or use of EDI with contracted security measures.

Consequently, since 1 July 2021, non-established but VAT registered companies must adopt certified billing software to comply with the Portuguese law as required by Law-Decree 28/2019, Decision 404/2020-XXII, and Circular 30234/2021.

E-invoices in B2G scenarios

The Portuguese e-invoicing mandate for business-to-government transactions includes a format requirement attached to specific transmission methods. In other words, invoices to the public administration must be issued electronically in the CIUS-PT format and transmitted through one of the web services made available by the public administration.

Initially, a phased roll-out started in January 2021, obliging large companies to issue e-invoices to public buyers. In July, the subjective scope was enlarged to include small and medium-sized businesses. The last step is to include microenterprises by January 2022.

Due to the Covid pandemic, Portugal established a grace period that has been renewed several times, whereby PDF invoices would be accepted by the public administration. Currently, the grace period runs until 31 December 2021, meaning that, in practice, all suppliers of the public administration, regardless of their size, should comply with the e-invoicing rules in public procurement by 1 January 2022.

Take Action

Need to ensure compliance with the latest e-invoicing regulations? Get in touch with our tax experts at Sovos.

In our last look at Romania SAF-T, we detailed the technical specifications released from Romania’s tax authority. Since then, additional guidance has been released including an official name for the SAF-T submission: D406.

Implementation timeline for mandatory submission of Romania SAF-T

To alleviate taxpayer concerns due to the complexity of the report and difficulties with extraction, the tax authorities are introducing a voluntary testing period which is due to begin in the coming weeks. During this period, taxpayers may submit what is known as D406T which will contain test data that the authorities will not use in the future for audit purposes.

Submission deadlines for Romania SAF-T

The Romanian SAF-T, D406, is based on the OECD schema version 2.0 which contains five sections:

The submission deadlines are as follows:

Taxpayers must submit sections of D406 monthly or quarterly, following the applicable tax period for VAT return submission.

For the first report, tax authorities have announced a grace period for the first three months of submission. This is from the date when the deposit obligation becomes effective for that taxpayer, where non-filing or incorrect filing will not result in penalization if correct submissions are submitted once the grace period ends.

Submission information for Romania SAF-T

The D406 must be submitted electronically in PDF format, with an XML attachment and electronic signature. The size of the two files must not exceed 500 MB. If the file is larger than the maximum limit, the portal will not accept it and the file must be divided into segments according to details set out in the Romanian guidance.

The tax authorities have indicated that, should a taxpayer find errors in the original submission, a corrective statement may be submitted to rectify these errors. The taxpayer should submit a second full corrected file to replace the original file that contains errors. If a taxpayer submits a second D406 for the same period, it is automatically considered a corrective statement.

Take Action

Need to ensure compliance with the latest Romania SAF-T requirements? Speak to our team. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep up-to-date with the latest regulatory news and updates or see this overview on VAT Compliance in Romania.

Welcome to our Q&A two-part blog series on the French e-invoicing and e-reporting mandate, which comes into effect 2023-2025. That sounds far away but businesses must start preparing now if they are to comply.

The Sovos compliance team has returned to answer some of your most pressing questions asked during our webinar.

We have outlined the new mandate, e-invoicing specifically, and questions around this topic in our first blog post.

This blog will look at the other side of the mandate – e-reporting obligations. These will apply to B2C and cross-border B2B transactions in France, which must be periodically reported.

Payments E-reporting

First let’s look at common questions around payments e-reporting.

What are the invoice and payment statuses to be reported?

Here is a slide from our webinar showing invoice statuses, whether these are mandatory, recommended, or free, origins, action to take if rejected, status data, and when it needs to be reported:

Who is responsible for payment e-reporting? The buyer, the seller, or both?

It was initially rumoured to be both on the buyer and the seller side, but the latest information from DGFIP clearly states that it will be the responsibility of the seller to report the invoice status, and, if applicable, its payment status.

Some further clarification is needed though since the seller is dependent on the buyer’s response on some status (e.g. ‘invoice rejected’).

‘Partner’ platform certification requirements

Your e-invoicing and e-reporting project cannot be done in isolation. This is a significant project with many dependencies that involve external third parties.

There will be one or, in most likelihood, several third parties in the middle of the transaction chain. This will include Chorus Pro, chosen by the French government as the official and obligatory platform for businesses to issue e-invoices to public administrations.

This section covers common questions on partner platform certification requirements.

Is there a list of official validated partner platforms?

The 13 July 2021 DGFIP workshop dedicated to this matter highlighted that there would be a registration process for third-party platforms, as well as taxpayers who would want to run their own platform.

The registration process will consist of two phases:

Phase 1. A prior selection by the tax authorities based on the general profile of the candidate (e.g. are they up to date in their own tax payment duties?) and the services they propose;

Phase 2. Within 12 months after registration, an independent audit would have to performed that demonstrates that the platform meets the DGFIP requirements, such as:

<liPerforming the control and mapping activities (extraction of invoicing data for both e-invoicing and e-reporting, certain invoice validation checks – mandatory fields, check sums, Customer ID verification – mapping to and from a minimum set of mandatory formats, compliance with GDPR, etc)

A few other key points to note are:

Implementation timeline

What is the current expectation on when exact required fields with be supplied by the government (invoice specs with all required fields and values)?

Excel files are available as a draft document at a very detailed level which Sovos can provide on request. The final specs should be known by the end of September 2021.

Take Action

Still have questions about e-reporting? Access our webinar on-demand for more information and advice on how to comply.

In our recent webinar, Sovos covered the new French e-invoicing and e-reporting mandate, and what this means for businesses and their tax obligations.

We are witnessing a global move towards Continuous Transaction Controls (CTCs), where tax authorities are demanding transactional data in real-time or near real-time, affecting e-invoicing and e-reporting obligations.

As such, from 2023, France will implement a mandatory B2B e-invoicing clearance and e-reporting obligation in an effort to increase tax efficiency, cut costs, and fight fraud.

The pace towards this mandate has been accelerating lately with the adoption of the Finance law for 2021, followed by a number of workshops organised by the Ministry of Finance — namely the Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFIP).

In the first of two blogs on the mandate, we answer some of your most pressing questions asked during our webinar.

In part one, we focus on setting the scene in terms of scope, and cover questions around e-invoicing specifically, invoicing file formats, processes and controls, and archiving.

The second blog covers questions around e-reporting obligations.

Scope of the regulation

In this section, we answer questions on the scope of the regulation, such as which companies must comply with the mandate and how.

Are non-resident companies (foreign companies with only a French VAT-registration) obliged to fulfil this new regulation? Are foreign legal entities with a French VAT number in scope?

The Budget Laws for 2020 and 2021 introduced the CTC scheme from a legal perspective. Both include “persons subject to VAT” in the scope.

VAT registration is a strong indication that a company is subject to VAT, but classification as a VAT “taxable person” also depends on other factors.

Therefore, it is not as simple as just looking at whether a company has a local VAT registration, to decide whether it is subject to VAT and therefore targeted by the mentioned budget laws.

However, the scope cannot be unilaterally decided by France as the French CTC scheme is dependent on a derogation from the EU Council.

As a comparison, Italy initially included all taxable persons in the scope of its e-invoicing clearance mandate, including those with a mere VAT registration but no establishment. But in this case, the EU Council limited the scope (of its derogation) to persons established in Italy.

From an e-invoicing perspective, we can therefore expect that France will need to follow the Italian path (due to its reliance on a derogation from the EU Council), limiting the scope to established persons.

DGFIP has however suggested that companies that are non-established but VAT registered will be in scope of the reporting obligation.

Is import of goods in the scope of e-reporting? What about import of services?

Only imports (supplies from outside of the EU) of services are in the scope of the current proposal.

E-invoice formats

In this section, we discuss permitted e-invoice formats.

The fact that the new regime creates a specific process for domestic B2B e-invoicing does not change the need for businesses to demonstrate the integrity and authenticity of each invoice.

This can be done through one of the 3 legal methods defined by the existing regulations:

To ensure there’s no impact of the reform on integrity and authenticity demonstration methods, one can still apply any of them.

However, with the new regime, e-invoicing data sent to the DGFIP does need to be in a structured format.

Will digital signatures be required?

Digital signatures are not strictly required today and will not be strictly required in the new scheme. Integrity and authenticity will still need to be ensured though, irrespective of invoice format, as is the case today.

The options remain the same; use of digital signatures, use of EDI with security measures, or the BCAT option whereby the audit trail should prove the transaction and its authenticity and integrity.

Are PDF and XML invoice file formats still possible to receive from 2023-2025?

The legal invoice format can be anything, as long as the supplier and buyer agree on it and the integrity and authenticity are guaranteed. Also, a human readable version (normally a PDF) is required upon audit as part of the general EU requirements.

What e-invoicing formats are permitted?

This is not fully defined yet, but DGFIP has indicated the following syntax, based on the EN16931 standard:

Those formats would apply to:

E-invoicing process and controls

In this section, we answer questions around the processes for sending and receiving e-invoices, what information they need to include, and the Chorus Pro platform.

Will the e-invoice need to be sent real-time?

Yes, it can be considered a “real-time clearance system”. As part of the e-invoicing obligation, the reporting of mandatory data to the tax authorities and the issuance of the original invoice to the buyer by the supplier’s partner platform should happen right after receiving the invoicing data from the supplier.

If the invoice doesn’t have all the mandatory information like the SIRET number of a customer, will the Chorus Pro platform clear it?

Will Chorus Pro also be validating the VAT rates used?

No, or at least not on the fly when submitting the invoicing data to Chorus Pro. Our understanding is that those verifications will be done by the tax authorities after the fact, using data analytics / AI algorithms.

Are there common data, connection and bridges with the current SAF-T?

The French version of SAF-T (FEC) must still be available on demand from the tax authorities.

Archiving

In this section, we answer questions around compliant archiving of e-invoices.

Does the Chorus Pro/Tax Authority portal provide a compliant electronic archive for AP/AR invoices in France?

Yes. However, in our experience, even though a tax authority’s archiving solution would be available for taxable persons, few larger companies choose to solely rely on it for evidence purposes and instead continue to use their compliant internal or third-party archiving solutions.

This decision is ultimately based on the fact that the tax authority’s archiving solution poses a conflict of interest: it is maintained by the tax authority, which, from a legal perspective, is not an independent party but rather the counterparty in a fiscal claim.

In fact, from discussions with many experts and customers over that past year, we see that the market request for third-party archiving services is even stronger after the introduction of clearance, especially as customers see a need to store not only the invoice but also response messages from the CTC portal to further maintain evidence of compliance.

Take Action

Still have questions about the e-invoicing mandate? Access our webinar on-demand for more information and advice on how to comply.

What is Intrastat?

Intrastat is a reporting regime relating to the intra-community trade of goods within the EU.

Under Regulation (EC) No. 638/2004, VAT taxpayers who are making intra-community sales and purchases of goods are required to complete Intrastat declarations when the reporting threshold is breached.

Intrastat declarations must be completed in both the country of dispatch (by the seller) and the country of arrival (by the purchaser). The format and data elements of Intrastat declarations vary from country to country, though some data elements are required in all Member States. Reporting thresholds also vary by Member State.

How is Intrastat being modernised?

In an effort to improve data collection and ease the administrative burden on businesses an ‘Intrastat Modernisation’ project was launched in 2017. As a result of this project Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 (the Regulation on European business statistics) was adopted.

The practical effects of these changes are two-fold: