Companies receiving travel services have a choice as to whether to apply sec. 25 of the German VAT Act (which violates EU law) or art. 306 ff. of the EU VAT Directive. The German Federal Fiscal Court confirmed this in its judgment of 13.12.2017, which was published on 02.05.2018 (XI R 4/16). This allows companies to choose the most preferable taxation scheme, for themselves and for their customers, who ultimately have to bear the VAT burden. As a result, companies have a maximum degree of flexibility and can theoretically generate non-taxed turnover. This remains applicable until the legislator reacts and adapts sec. 25 of the German VAT Act.

The ECJ has made triangulation supplies easier to carry out through its judgment in the case of Hans Bühler KG (judgment of 19.04.2018 - C-580/16). The simplification rule for triangulation supplies is also applicable if the intermediate is established or registered in the country of departure. This means that businesses could possibly avoid registrations abroad. The situation is to be analyzed against this background and the progress in the relevant countries is to be followed. The ECJ also restricts the importance of the formal requirements, as it views EC Sales Lists, which have not been filed or filed late, as being harmless. This could also apply to other formal requirements, such as invoicing.

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.