VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) aims to modernise and simplify the European VAT system.
ViDA was officially adopted by the EU on 11 March 2025. The package took 27 months to be approved and adopted, with the initiative initially being proposed by the European Commission in 2022.
The path to adoption included many versions and consultations, which this blog outlines in a timeline.
Want to understand more about ViDA and how it will impact your business? Read our ViDA guide.
2025
25 March 2025 – ‘VAT in the Digital Age’ Published in the EU Official Journal
On 25 March 2025, the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package was officially published in the Official Journal of the European Union amending the following legal instruments:
- The EU VAT Directive
- The Regulation on the VAT administrative cooperation
- The VAT Implementing Regulation concerning requirements for certain VAT schemes
These amending acts will enter into force on 14 April 2025, with different changes taking effect from that date through to 2035.
This means that in 20 days, the first changes will take effect regarding electronic invoicing rules. Under the new framework, EU Member States will have the flexibility to introduce domestic e-invoicing mandates without needing prior approval from the EU.
11 March 2025 – EU Officially Adopts ‘VAT in the Digital Age’
The VAT in the Digital Age Package (ViDA) has been adopted by the EU on 11 March 2025, 27 months after it was initially proposed by the Commission in late 2022.
The package includes a directive, regulation, and implementing regulation, focusing on three key areas: digitalizing VAT reporting by 2030, requiring online platforms to collect VAT on short-term accommodation and passenger transport services, and expanding the online VAT one-stop-shop to simplify cross-border VAT registration.
The new rules will take effect on the 20th day after publication in the Official Journal of the EU, with Member States required to transpose the directive into national law.
While many rules will come into effect only a few years from now, some will be effective immediately, such as Member States’ right to introduce mandatory domestic electronic invoicing without needing prior authorization from the EU.
12 February 2025 – European Parliament approves ViDA Proposal
The European Parliament has approved the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) proposal, bringing it one step closer to official adoption. The proposal will now head to the Council of the EU for final approval, marking a key step in the effort to modernize VAT systems throughout the European Union.
2024
5 November 2024 – Member States agree to adopt ViDA package
The European Parliament has approved the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) proposal, bringing it one step closer to official adoption. The proposal will now head to the Council of the EU for final approval, marking a key step in the effort to modernize VAT systems throughout the European Union.
The long-awaited VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) proposal has been approved by Member States’ Economic and Finance Ministers. On 5 November 2024, during the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meeting, Member States unanimously agreed on adopting the ViDA package. This decision marks a major milestone in modernizing the VAT Directive, setting the stage for a more efficient and digital VAT system across the European Union.
Certain changes will take effect immediately once the package comes into force, while others will roll out in stages over the coming years.
The text will proceed to formal approval by the Parliament, after which it will be ready for official adoption.
1 November 2025 – New ViDA Proposal Set for ECOFIN Approval
The Council of the European Union has released a new proposal regarding the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) reform.
The proposal aims to modernise and streamline VAT systems across the EU, notably e-invoicing and Continuous Transaction Controls (CTC). Members States will review it on 5 November at the upcoming ECOFIN meeting. The main change in the new ViDA proposal concerns the dates when measures become effective. Deadlines have been postponed as a result of the setbacks ViDA has faced since its initial draft.
If approved, a series of changes will take place over time – some of which will take effect as soon as the Directive enters into force.
25 June 2024 – ViDA Rejected again
During the latest ECOFIN meeting on 21 June, Member States met to discuss if they could come to an agreement to implement the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) proposals. At the ECOFIN meeting in May, Estonia objected to the platform rules being proposed, instead requesting to make the new deemed supplier rules optional (an opt-in), allowing Member States to choose whether to implement them in their national VAT legislation or not.
In the meeting a new compromise text was proposed. The compromise text meant that there would be an opt in for the new deemed supplier rules but for SME businesses. Whilst 26 Member States and the commission came to an agreement on this, Estonia could not support the new compromise due to the fact there was no substantial changes since the last meeting and their objections remained. It will now be up to the Hungarian presidency to seek agreement on the proposals, during the second semester of 2024.
2023
November 2023 – Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs proposes postponement of ViDA
The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs from the European Parliament has proposed to postpone most aspects of ViDA for at least one year. The committee cites ongoing delays in the legislative process as a reason for the postponement. The recommendation was decided on a nearly unanimous vote; no members voted against the measure.
If the Committee’s proposal is adopted as written, the revised launch dates for ViDA will be as follows:
E-Invoicing and Digital Reporting Requirements: Member States must implement administrative provisions for digital reporting requirements by January 1, 2029. The requirement for Member States to allow electronic invoicing, subject to common standards and without prior authorization from the tax authority, would take effect January 1, 2025.
Deemed Supplier Rules for Platforms: Member States must implement provisions to harmonize treatment of services facilitated by electronic platforms, and to impose deemed supplier rules for goods facilitated by electronic platforms, by January 1, 2026.
Single VAT Registration: Existing rules for VAT treatment of call-off stock would cease to apply as of December 31, 2025 [no change from original proposal]. Changes to Article 194 of the VAT Directive would take effect by January 1, 2026. Member States must implement provisions to expand the scope of non-Union and Union One-Stop Shop schemes by January 1, 2026.
