On Friday 18 July, the Council of the European Union formally adopted the Directive on value added tax (VAT) rules applicable to distance selling of imported goods and to VAT on imports.
The directive, which was the subject of a political agreement (‘general approach’) in May (see EUROPE B13639A1), is intended to improve the collection of VAT on imported goods by ensuring that suppliers are always liable for VAT paid on imports, rather than EU consumers, as is currently the case.
It...