We wish you all a successful 2018 (VAT) year! Although the turn of the year 2017/2018 has not resulted in any major VAT changes, some action may, nevertheless, be required. On one hand, certain transitional arrangements expired on 31.12.2107. On the other hand, taxable persons need to act during the course of 2018 in order to ensure that necessary measures and amendments are implemented prior to the expiration of other transitional arrangements on 31.12.2018.

FRANCE does not have a filing deadline for VAT refund applications and implements obligation of electronic in-voicing +++ ITALY shortens period for claiming input VAT deduction +++ CROATIA regulates correction possibilities and implements simplifications as regards import VAT +++ NORWAY increases the reduced VAT rate +++ POLAND postpones implementation of the Split-Payment-System +++ ROMANIA concretizes scope of application of the Split-Payment-System +++ HUNGARY publishes details regarding the obligatory electronic transmission of invoice details

More than three years ago, the Federal Fiscal Court de-cided that hospital treatments carried out by private hospitals could be VAT exempt. To date, the legislator has not amended the German VAT law in this regard, which is contrary to European law. In its current decision, the Federal Fiscal Court points to a possible VAT exemption, based on Union law, for medical care centers which are not licensed in accordance with sec. 95 of the Social Security Code V.