Changes in VAT place of Supply rules!

VAT place of supply rules changes from 1 January 2015

Andrew Webb, Senior VAT Policy Manager at HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), explained on the changes to the EU VAT place of supply rules for B2C digital service suppliers.

The changes will be implemented from 1 January 2015 to the European Union (EU) VAT place of supply of services rules involving business to consumer (B2C) supplies of broadcasting, telecommunications and e-services i.e., digital services.

VAT Moss Business to consumer supplies of digital services

What are the changes being made to the VAT place of supply of services rules?

On the 1st of January 2015, the EU Vat place of supply, and therefore taxation rules are changing, so that from that date the place of taxation will be where the customer lives, rather than where the supplier of the service is established. It's the final change in a series of changes to embed the idea that, with consumption taxes such as VAT, the place where the tax is paid should be where the service or goods are enjoyed, consumed or used.

What does it mean for the businesses affected?

It imposes on them an obligation to register for VAT where their customer is located. It also means that they have to collect information to define where their customer is actually living and the VAT rate in that Member State.

What can a business do if it doesn't want to register for VAT in every Member State where it supplies a service?

It can make use of a new service introduced on the 1st January called the VAT Mini One Stop Shop, or MOSS. With the MOSS, the business will only need to register in one jurisdiction and make one MOSS VAT return, one MOSS Payment to cover all of its obligations across the whole of the EU.

How can a digital service supplier register for VAT in the UK?

First of all register with HMRC through the gov.uk website.

Then, once registered, the business will collect the information about the supplies it's making to the customers. At the end of each calendar quarter it will submit its single return to us and its single payment, and then it can leave it to HMRC to do the rest.

HMRC will split the payment and the return and send it to the appropriate Member States where the consumers live.

Check the website for more information - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/posmoss/

Are you still not clear on the changes? We are always happy to help you.
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