EU finance ministers reached a political agreement (‘general approach’) on the directive on value added tax (VAT) rules for distance sales of imported goods and import VAT on Tuesday 13 May at the Ecofin Council (see EUROPE 13637/16).
The directive aims to improve VAT collection by making suppliers liable for VAT, which should encourage them to use the one-stop shop for imports (IOSS). “It ensures that VAT is paid upfront when the order is placed, rather than at the border; it simplifies procedures for businesses and at the same time ensures transparent prices for customers”, emphasised Andrzej Domański, the Polish minister, during the public debate.
His Spanish counterpart, Carlos Cuerpo Caballero, insisted that IOSS represents “an instrument in the fight against fraud”, which will help to increase public revenues, “something we sorely need at the moment”.
Ireland’s Paschal Donohoe voiced his concerns about the practical implementation of these measures for customs authorities.
The French and Italian ministers, Éric Lombard and Giancarlo Giorgetti, have shared their concerns about the risks associated with online commerce, in particular the small parcels that are really invading Europe. These pose problems in terms of respect for human rights in terms of their manufacture, sustainability in terms of their transport and safety for consumers.
Read the general approach: https://aeur.eu/f/gqz
The EU Council’s statement: https://aeur.eu/f/gr0
The compromise text: https://aeur.eu/f/gr1 (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)