The customs law was slightly amended at the turn of the year. The customs tariff, as well as tariff suspension and tariff quotas were affected by these changes. The amendment to the customs tariff was not only editorial in nature, rather the tariff rates applicable to different prod-ucts were adjusted/reduced. Further, the formalities for issuing certificates of origin were changed. Both, the APS and CETA now require, in certain cases, the status of a registered exporter (REX).

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