Blogs

The European Commission has challenged Germany to extend the VAT exemption on group shared services to all industries. Group VAT exemptions allow related companies to forego charging VAT on intra-g...Continued

France has issued a number of decrees modifying the French VAT regime. The changes, effective on 1 January 2015, include: French VAT rates The VAT rate on construction services provided in design...Continued

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is now reviewing EU member states' views on the tax treatment of digital currencies, such as bitcoin, ahead of a formal ruling. A sharp division has emerged...Continued

The German Ministry of Finance has confirmed that audio books via downloads are subject to the standard German VAT rate of 19%. This compares to physical books, which benefit from being levied at the ...Continued

Italy has introduced an amendment on 20 November 2014 to its tax code to reclassify electronic books (e-books) at the same reduced VAT rate as traditional, paper books.  This means e-books will be sub...Continued

One of the three major credit rating agencies, Moody’s, has downgraded Japan’s credit rating following the decision to delay the Japanese Consumption Tax rise to 10% in 2015. The rise had been plan...Continued

France will require all non-resident or foreign French VAT registered companies to prepare and submit their accounting records in a proscribed electronic format for audits commencing after 1 January 2...Continued

The Suriname government has confirmed that it will introduce a full Value Added Tax regime from 1 January 2015. The rate for the new consumption tax has not been confirmed. Suriname Sales Tax The ne...Continued

Malta has become the latest EU member state to reduce the VAT rate on e-books, and harmonise it to the same 5% reduced VAT rate it applies to printed books. The reclassification from the standard Malt...Continued

Germany has acted to reduce the problems of VAT fraud being perpetrated through shell companies acquiring German companies and falsely claiming input VAT. German monthly VAT filings Generally, only ...Continued