EU vetoes ‘reverse charge’ VAT proposal
EU tax commissioner rejects German and Austrian tax plans
Plans by Germany and Austria to depart from standard European VAT rules by
introducing a so-called ‘reverse charge’ system have been vetoed by the European
Union.
The two countries hoped the system would beat rampant VAT fraud by completely
changing their tax collection systems, the FT reported.
Germany claims the reverse charge system would deny middle men the chance to
commit fraud as VAT would be collected by the retailer at the end of the supply
chain.
But Laszlo Kovacs, European Union tax commissioner, said the proposed system
could not be allowed.
Germany, in turn, is blocking other EU tax agreements in an attempt to force
Kovacs to change his stance.