Where a taxable person subsequently invoices VAT in invoices for supplies, which previously he had treated as being VAT exempt, this does not result in the recipient’s input VAT deduction, by means of a VAT refund, being disallowed. Any possible limitation periods are irrelevant in cases where the recipient was unable to claim the refund within time, due to the fact that he did not have an invoice and was unaware of the VAT liability (ECJ, decision of 21.03.2018 - C- 533/16 Volkswagen AG). Here, substantive law prevails over procedural law.

AUSTRALIA introduces distance sales regime +++ BULGARIA clarifies treatment of supplies via consignment stocks +++ FRANCE reduces interest rates for tax arrears +++ GREAT BRITAIN defers Brexit and demands electronic transfer of VAT details +++ ITALY obliges companies to invoice electronically and eases regulations regarding input VAT deduction +++ SWITZERLAND obliges registered companies to declare worldwide turnover and shifts to electronic customs assessments

Unusual constellation – the plaintiff, a taxable person, assumed that it would be liable for undue VAT shown on debit notes. The tax office, however, denied the VAT liability. The Tax Court of Baden-Wurttemberg agreed with the plaintiff (see decision of 11.12.2017 file ref. 9 K 2646/16). It granted approval to cancel the undue VAT shown in the debit notes, a prerequisite for claiming the VAT amount from the tax office. The decision creates significant uncertainty for other taxable persons.