On Tuesday 10 December, the Ecofin Council reached a political agreement (general approach) on the revised Regulation as regards the electronic value added tax (VAT) exemption certificate (see EUROPE 13537/16).
“As part of the EU’s efforts to update VAT systems, I’m glad that after the VIDA package last month, we are taking another modernising step with this agreement on the electronic VAT exemption certificate, that will put an end to paper certificates to be signed by hand”, enthused Mihály Varga, Hungary’s Minister of Finance, in a press release (see EUROPE 13518/13).
During the public debate, he explained that this directive provides for an electronic certificate to replace the current paper certificate used when goods need to be exempt from VAT, for example because they are imported for embassies, international organisations or the armed forces.
The electronic format, including the necessary IT specifications, will be examined by groups of experts and defined in implementing acts to be drawn up by the European Commission. During a transitional period, Member States will be able to use both electronic and paper versions.
The agreements will now undergo technical and linguistic checks before being presented to the EU Council for formal adoption. The texts will then be published in the Official Journal of the EU and enter into force. Implementation will begin on 30 June 2031, with full application one year later.
To read the political agreement on the directive: https://aeur.eu/f/eqf
and the one on the implementing regulation: https://aeur.eu/f/eqg (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)