In the previous view of the German tax authorities, the VAT exemption for intra-Community supplies was to be dependent on the relevant EC Sales List being submitted or corrected in due time. Since the time this requirement was included in the German Administrative Circular in 2020, considerable doubt has existed as to whether this extremely strict view was actually acceptable under EU law. For some time now, there have been increasing loud whispers that the Federal Ministry of Finance would ultimately correct this. Now the time has finally come. In its letter of 20 May 2022, the Ministry clarifies that the VAT exemption cannot be denied solely on the basis of a failure to meet the deadline for the ECSL.