In the EU Commission’s view, the existing corporate tax law has failed when it comes to the taxation of revenue generated by the digital economy. An interim tax of 3% on specific online revenues should be levied until the OECD has remedied the situation. Companies with a world-wide revenue exceeding EUR 750 million would be affected. The placing of online advertising, the facilitation of online sales portals and the sale of user data would all be taxed. Thus, the digital service tax would be focused on the USA’s internet giants.

The ECJ repeated in its Biosafe decision (judgment of 12.04.2018 – C-8/17), the reasoning contained in the case Volkswagen AG, namely that a national regulation, regarding a limitation period is not applicable in certain circumstances. Whereas the case Volkswagen AG considered an input VAT refund claim according to Directive 2008/9/EU, the case Biosafe concerned the regular taxation procedure. This decision may also have an impact on the German regulation regarding the Statute of Limitations, sec. 169 ff. German General Fiscal Code.

Member States must pay the total amount of the reim-bursement interest regulated in their legislation. In the view of the European Court of Justice, this also applies if the interest is higher in a particular case than the actual financial disadvantage suffered by the taxpayer (judgment of 28 February 2018 – C-387/16 – Nidera). This decision may impact on the discussion concerning the lawfulness of the German interest on arrears (6% p.a.).