VAT News

Januray 10, 2012
The VAT filing deadline in most of the European countries is approaching
If VAT has been paid on expenses within the European Union (EU) after January 1, 2011, the invoices should be gathered and send to our office before March 1, 2012 in order to meet the June 2012 VAT filing deadline. Please contact our office at your earliest convenience if interested in proceeding with a VAT refund. The filing preparation has to start 2 months prior to the VAT filing deadline due to an IRS certificate that has to be ordered which can take up to 2 months to receive.

Januray 1, 2012
Ireland increases their standard VAT rate from 21% to 23%
Ireland decided to raise their standard VAT rate from 21% to 23%. The new rate goes into effect January 1, 2012.

September 16, 2011
Italy increases their standard VAT rate from 20% to 21%
The Italian government decided to raise their standard VAT (IVA) rate from 20% to 21%. The change goes into effect September 17, 2011.

July 18 , 2011
United Kingdom's VAT Filing Deadline is Approaching
If VAT has been paid on expenses in the United Kingdom (EU) between July 1, 2010 thru June 30, 2011, the invoices should be gathered and send to our office ASAP in order to meet the December 2011 VAT filing deadline. Please contact our office at your earliest convenience if interested in proceeding with a VAT refund. The filing process preparation has to start now due to an IRS certificate that has to be ordered and this certificate can take up to 3 months to receive. Actual invoices for VAT refund can be sent in later.

June 8 , 2011
Webinar on June 22 “Understanding Value Added Tax (VAT) in the EU”
Euro VAT Refund's CEO, Britta Eriksson, presents on VAT when doing business in the European Union (EU) at a webinar hosted by U.S. Department of Commerce - U.S. Commercial Service, the New Hampshire Export Assistance Center,; "Understanding Value Added Tax (VAT) in the EU" - At Your Desk on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - .11:00am-12:00pm EDT (08:00am-09:00am Pacific Daylight Time PDT). For registration details click here.

April 15, 2011
The VAT filing deadline in most of the European countries is approaching
If VAT has been paid on expenses within the European Union (EU) after January 1, 2010, the invoices should be gathered and send to our office now in order to meet the June 2011 VAT filing deadline. Please contact our office at your earliest convenience, if interested in proceeding with a VAT refund. The filing preparation has to start now due to an IRS certificate that has to be ordered and can take up to 8 weeks to receive.

January 19 , 2011
EuroVAT CEO speaks
Euro VAT Refund's CEO, Britta Eriksson speaks about VAT at the Valley International Trade Association's Global Networking Breakfast; "Gateway to the European Union" - Sherman Oaks, CA, on January 19, 2011.

January 1 , 2011
Switzerland increases VAT rates
The standard rate is increased to 8% (7.6%) and applies to most goods supplied and to nearly all services. Basic necessities, mainly food and drink (excluding alcoholic drinks), medicines and also certain newspapers, magazines and books, are taxed but only at the reduced rate of 2.5%. Finally overnight stays including breakfast are subject to the increased special rate of 3.8% (3.6%).

December 1 , 2010
In 2011, new EU VAT rules will apply to Conferences, Events and Exhibitions
In 2011, new VAT rules will apply to the organizing of Conferences, Events and Exhibitions in the different EU countries. For the North American event planner and company that organizes events in Europe, this can mean:

1. They might be charged VAT on fewer services than before

2. They may be able to arrange meetings and tradeshow without prior VAT registration in some cases. However, in most cases, VAT registration is still required.

The rules will vary greatly from country to country, and it is very important to check at the planning stage for each event for each country. Please contact EuroVAT at the planning stage of your next event for the details.
[Learn More].

November 17 , 2010
January 1, 2011 will witness a change in the Polish VAT rates to 23%.
According to the Polish VAT Act amendments, the standard VAT rate will increase to 23% (currently 22%). The reduced VAT rate will increase to 8% (currently 7%). The 23% and 8% rates are to remain in force until 31 December 2013. The VAT amendment also introduces a new reduced VAT rate of 5%, which will generally replace the current reduced rate of 3%.

October 20, 2010
EuroVAT CEO speaks
Euro VAT Refund's CEO, Britta Eriksson speaks about VAT at the Monterey Bay International Trade Association Seminar; "Europe and America - Poised for Growth in a Challenging Economy" - San Jose, CA, on October 20, 2010

June 30, 2010
Finland increases their standard VAT rate from 22% to 23%
The Finnish government decided to raise their standard VAT (ALV) rate from 22% to 23%. The change goes into effect July 1, 2010

June 23, 2010
United Kingdom has decided to increase the VAT rate to 20%
United Kingdom will increase its VAT rate from 17.5% to 20% on January 4, 2011 to help with paying the country’s debt.

June 17, 2010
Germany has issued new Minimum filing requirements
The total minimum VAT reclaim amount is now 500 Euro if only one claim is submitted per year and 1000 Euro (per claim) if more than one claim is submitted per year.

January 15, 2010
New EU VAT rules mean less VAT charges on services to North American companies
The EU “VAT Pack 2010” rules means that in general, no VAT will be charged on services invoiced from a European company to a North American company, starting in 2010. Examples of such services are clinical research, installations and repairs, and TV and movie productions. VAT will still be charged on other services, such as lodging and meals, tradeshows and conferences. There are exceptions to the rules.

January 3, 2010
Germany reduces the VAT rate on Lodging to 7%
On January 1, 2010, Germany reduced the VAT rate on lodging from 19% to 7%. The rate is applicable to the hotel room only, not to the meals or other services charged on the hotel bills. The VAT incurred is still refundable to the North American company in most cases

November 4, 2009
European Union service providers start to ask U.S. customers for "taxpayer status" confirmation
In preparation for the changing EU VAT rules in 2010, "VAT Package 2010", European service provider companies are starting to send out requests for "confirmation of taxpayer status" to their customers in North America. Please contact EuroVAT for clarification and assistance on how to answer these requests, so that your company minimize the possibility of paying VAT on the services purchased from Europe.
[Learn more]

October 1, 2009
UK VAT Rate will Revert Back to 17.5% from January 1, 2010
The VAT rate in the United Kingdom will increase from 15% to 17.5%, effective January 1, 2010. The rate was temporarily lowered to 15% for the year 2009 in an attempt to help boost the UK economy. To assess your UK reclaim opportunities contact our VAT Experts

September 18, 2009
United Kingdom Filing Deadline Approaching
The deadline for filing a VAT refund claim to the United Kingdom for invoices dated
from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 is fast approaching.
[Learn more]

September 9, 2009
New 2010 VAT Package Financial Services Offered for U.S. Companies
in Preparation of Changing European Rules
Advance VAT registration required by many countries for companies to claim VAT refund
[Learn more]