AUSTRALIA plans to tax non-established providers of hotel rooms +++ GREAT BRITAIN intends to simplify input VAT deduction of import VAT +++ GREECE is about to introduce real-time reporting obligations and plans to ban paper invoices +++ HUNGARY unofficially grants grace period for real-time reporting +++ INDIA intends to simplify VAT returns +++ ITALY postpones the obligation to issue electronic invoices +++ KUWAIT schedules the introduction of a VAT system for 2021 +++ MALAYSIA abolished GST +++ NEW ZEALAND plans to abolish the exemption limit for imports +++ RUSSIA reduces the exemption threshold for imports +++ SWITZERLAND publishes broadcasting fees +++ SPAIN expands real-time reporting obligations

In its decision of 25.04.2018, the Federal Fiscal Court’s 9th Senate voiced “serious doubts” as regards the constitutionality of the interest rate charged on tax arrears. The Federal Ministry of Finance’s now instructs tax offices to grant the suspension of the execution for all interest assessments which are based on sec 238 General Fiscal Code. However, this only applies for interest periods as of April 2015. Moreover, taxpayers must first appeal against the interest assessment and apply for the suspension.

In practice, the time a supply takes place, is one of the most common pieces of mandatory information missing from invoices. According to the latest Federal Fiscal Court case law (decision of 01.03.2018, V R 18/17), this missing information may be concluded from the date of issue of the invoice. The prerequisite for this is that according to the circumstances of the respective case, it can be expected that the supply was rendered in the month the invoice was issued.