In the second half of the year, the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) publishes its annual sample VAT returns form that is to be used for the upcoming tax period. This year, for good reason, the new forms were only published by means of a BMF letter dated 22 December 2020. The late publication of the forms was due to the fact that the Annual Tax Act 2020 only came into force on 21 December 2020. The pre-published drafts of the forms caused an uproar in companies and trade associations. However, the short-term efforts of the trade associations to stop the VAT return form 2021 have been unsuccessful. The BMF is sticking with the forms.