1. Taxand VAT Reference Tool 2012
With regular legislative changes and fluctuating VAT rates, remaining VAT compliant is a real challenge. Understanding your VAT filing
obligations is vital to reducing your indirect tax costs, preventing cash leakage and averting the wider negative effects of non-compliance.
The Taxand VAT Reference Tool is designed to help you manage your VAT compliance by bringing together a VAT calendar and a summary of
the VAT rates in 29 countries across Europe. Below, you will find an overview of each country's VAT rates, VAT recovery time and VAT
registration thresholds. On the reverse, there's a summary of European obligations including due dates for VAT returns, European sales
lists and Intrastat. You can use this information to understand VAT registration requirements, VAT rates in operation and your compliance
obligations in each country. With authorities worldwide becoming more vigilant, it is increasingly important to get your VAT compliance
right. Taxand delivers a global VAT compliance service blending our advisory expertise with our knowledge of compliance obligations, fiscal
representation capability and the latest software, to help you remain compliant, minimise risk of penalties and maximise opportunities.
VAT Rate - VAT Recovery - VAT Registration Threshold
Average VAT Recovery Time
Country Name of Tax Rate Rate (%) VAT Registration Threshold
(if in a net refund position)
Standard 20
Austria USt 4-8 weeks No Threshold
Reduced 10
Standard 21 6-8 weeks. Claim at the end of each
Belgium BTW/TVA No Threshold
Reduced 6; 12 quarter
Standard 20 30 days. Claim at the end of each 3
Bulgaria DDS month period (More than 3 months BGN 50,000 (Approx. € 25,500)
Reduced 9 in case of tax audit)
Standard 17 Depending on the activity performed, no thresholds for
Cyprus FPA 6-8 weeks Intracommunity supplies. € 10,251.61 in case of services received
Reduced 5; 8 from abroad. € 15,600 in the other cases
Czech Standard 20
DPH 30 days CZK 1 million (Approx. € 40,300)
Republic Reduced 14
Standard 25
Denmark MOMS 4 weeks DKK 50,000 (Approx € 6,720)
Reduced -
Standard 20
Estonia KM 30 days € 16,000
Reduced 9
Standard 23
Finland ALV 2-5 days € 8,500
Reduced 9; 13
19.6 [21.2 as of 1/10/12] (other (a) € 81,500 for enterprises whose activities consist of the supply of
Standard rates apply in Corsica and goods and the supply of accommodation or food to be consumed
overseas departments) 4 weeks after the filing if the claim is on the premises
France TVA above € 760 otherwise it will be an (b) € 32,600 for enterprises whose activities consist of the supply of
7; 2.1 (other rates apply in annual refund other services
Reduced Corsica and overseas (c) Enterprises that are covered by the exemption regime do not
departments) pay VAT or file tax returns
Standard 19
Germany Ust 4 weeks No Threshold
Reduced 7
23 (16 may apply to Aegean
Standard
islands) In practice up to 3.5 years for
Greece FPA No Threshold
refunds above € 30,000
Reduced
13; 6.5 (9 and 5 may apply to
Aegean islands) About Taxand
Standard 27
Hungary AFA 75 days No Threshold Taxand provides high quality,
Reduced 18; 5
(a) € 37,500 in the case of persons supplying services, integrated tax advice worldwide. Our
(b) € 37,500 for persons supplying goods liable at the reduced or tax professionals, nearly 400 partners
standard rates which they have manufactured or produced from and over 2,000 tax advisors in nearly
Standard 23 zero rated materials,
50 countries, grasp both the fine
(c) € 35,000 for persons making mail-order or distance sales into
In practice 2 - 3 weeks is the average the State, points of tax and the broader strategic
Republic of time. If any queries are raised by tax (d) € 41,000 for persons making intra-Community acquisitions, implications, helping you mitigate risk,
VAT
Ireland authorities or if the refund is (e) € 75,000 for persons supplying goods, manage your tax burden and drive the
13.5; 9 (for certain goods and substantial, it may take longer (f) € 75,000 for persons supplying both goods and services where performance of your business.
services for the period 1 July 90% or more of the turnover is derived from supplies of goods
Reduced (other than of the kind referred to at (b) above), and
2011 to 31 December 2013);
4.8 (g) A non-established person supplying taxable goods or services in
Republic of Ireland is obliged to register and account for VAT
irrespective of the level of turnover Our Indirect Tax Team
Standard 21 At least, 3 months after filing of the Our global indirect tax team brings
Italy IVA € 30,000 for individual taxpayers. No threshold for Corporates
Reduced 4; 10 annual return together extensive knowledge and
Annually - 10 days after approval by experience in nearly 50 countries. We
Standard 22 the tax authorities of the amount. In
certain cases monthly within 30
focus on delivering informed,
Latvia PVN LVL 35,000 (Approx. € 50,000) proactive advice that optimises your
days after submission of the return,
Reduced 12; 0 however tax authorities may tax efficiency and ensures compliance.
prolong the term Taxand delivers a global VAT
Standard 21 compliance service blending our
Lithuania PVM 30 days LTL 155,000 (Approx. € 45,000)
Reduced 9; 5 advisory expertise with our knowledge
After the assessment of the annual of compliance obligations, fiscal
Standard 15
returns (the Tax Authorities have 5
Luxembourg TVA/MwSt
years to assess the annual VAT
€ 10,000 representation capability and the
Reduced 3; 6; 12 latest software, so that you can avert
returns)
Standard 18 the risk of penalties and maximise
Malta VAT 5 months € 7,000
Reduced 5; 7 opportunities.
Standard 19 [21 as of 1/10/12]
Netherlands BTW 4-6 weeks No Threshold
Reduced 6
Standard 25 To discover how Taxand can deliver
Norway MVA 3 weeks NOK 50,000 (Approx. € 6,600)
Reduced 15; 11; 8; 0 your global indirect tax advantage,
Standard 23 60 days after the filing of the return. contact your nearest Taxand indirect
Poland VAT Up to 180 days in case of no taxable PLN 50,000 (Approx. € 36,000) tax advisor.
Reduced 8; 5 sales
Portugal IVA
Standard 23
2 to 3 weeks No Threshold
www.taxand.com
Reduced 6; 13
5 days for VAT returns with low risk;
Standard 24
45 days for other VAT returns (in For general enquiries:
Romania TVA RON 119,000 (Approx. € 27,200)
practice it could last up to 6 or even
Reduced 9; 5
12 months) Richard Baxter
Sales of € 49,790 for taxable persons established in Slovakia (i.e. T. +44 20 7663 0750
Standard 20 Within 30 days after filing VAT
seat, place of business or FE). Obligation to register before starting E. richard.baxter@alvarezandmarsal.com
Slovakia DPH return for the tax period. Shorter
an activity which is subject to VAT in Slovakia for taxable persons
Reduced 10 under certain conditions
not established in Slovakia Alain Recoules
Standard 20 T. +33 1 70 38 88 17
Slovenia DDV 21 days € 25,000
Reduced 8.5 E. alain.recoules@arsene-taxand.com
6 months for established VAT
Standard 18
payers; 1 month under certain Henk Hop
Spain IVA No Threshold
conditions; 8 months for non- T. +31 6 81 61 54 81
Reduced 4; 8
established VAT payers E. hhop@taxandvatcompliance.com
Standard 25
Sweden MOMS 3-5 weeks No Threshold
Reduced 6; 12
Standard 8 All are European Union countries with the
Switzerland MWST/TVA/IVA 60 days after the filing of the return CHF 100,000 (Approx. € 83,200)
Reduced 3.8; 2.5 exception of Norway and Switzerland
United Standard 20
VAT 30 days £ 77,000 (Approx. € 92,400)
Kingdom Reduced 0; 5 Updated April 2012
© Taxand Economic Interest Grouping 2012 Groupement d’intérêt économique - RCS : C 68
1B, Heienhaff - L – 1736 Senningerberg (Luxembourg)
Banque et Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat, Luxembourg
IBAN LU49 0019 2855 1871 6000, BIC : BCEELULL
VAT identification : LU 220 135 38

2. VAT Calendar
Q Quarterly period A Arrivals
M Monthly period D Dispatches
N End of the period (e.g. N = January) NWD Non working day
N+1 Month following the end of the Period (e.g. N+1 = February) WD Working day (i.e. Monday to Friday. In France, Monday to Saturday)
N+2 Second Month following the end of the period (e.g. N+2 = March) ESL European Sales List
Y End of fiscal year VIES VAT Information Exchange System
Y+2 Second Month following the end of the financial year N.A. Not applicable
* Conversion in Euro from national currency
Intrastat Thresholds
Country Return Period Due Date Comments
(in €)
VAT M/Q 15 of N+2 (electronic)
ESL M/Q 30 of N+1 (electronic) A: 500,000
Austria If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 10WD of N+1 (electronic) D: 500,000
Annual requirement June 30 (electronic) - April 30 (paper)
VAT M/Q 20 of N+1 (electronic)
ESL M 20 of N+1 (electronic) A: 700,000
Belgium If due date is a NWD, due date becomes previous WD
Intrastat M 20 of N+1 (electronic) D: 1,000,000
Annual requirement Annual sales list 31st March (electronic)
VAT M 14 of N+1 (electronic/paper)
ESL M 14 of N+1 (electronic) A: 102,258*
Bulgaria If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 10 of N+1 (electronic) D: 117,597*
Annual requirement N.A.
VAT Q 10 of N+2 (paper)
ESL Q 10 of N+2 (electronic)
A: 100,000
Cyprus Intrastat M 10 of N+1 (electronic) If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
D: 55,000
VIES M 15 of N+1 (electronic)
Annual requirement N.A.
VAT M/Q 25 of N+1 (electronic/paper)
ESL M/Q 25 of N+1 (electronic) A: 323,000*
Czech Republic If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 12WD of N+1 (electronic) - 10WD of N+1 (paper by exception) D: 323,000*
Annual requirement N.A.
M 25 of N+1 (electronic/paper)
VAT
Q 10 of N+2 (electronic/paper)
June & Q2 VAT return/ESL: One month and 17 days after the VAT period.
M 25 of N+1 (electronic/paper) A: 453,000*
Denmark ESL Small businesses have semi annual ruturns: first day of the third month
Q 10 of N+2 (electronic/paper) D: 600,000*
after VAT period. If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 10WD of N+1 (electronic/paper)
Annual requirement N.A.
VAT M 20 of N+1 (electronic)
ESL M 20 of N+1 (electronic/paper) A: 140,000
Estonia If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 14 of N+1 (electronic/paper) D: 100,000
Annual requirement N.A.
VAT M 12 of N+2 (electronic) - 7 of N+2 (paper)
ESL Q 20 of N+1 (paper) A: 275,000
Finland If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 10WD of N+1 (paper) D: 500,000
Annual requirement N.A.
19 to 24 of N+1 for companies 15 to 19 of N+1 for individuals
VAT M/Q
(electronic/paper (depending on the taxpayer))
A: 460,000
France ESL M 10WD of N+1 (electronic/paper (depending on the taxpayer)) If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
D: 1
Intrastat M 10WD of N+1 (electronic/paper (depending on the taxpayer))
Annual requirement N.A.
VAT M/Q 10 of N+1 (electronic)
ESL M/Q 25 of N+1 (electronic - paper by exception) A: 400,000 A month extension can be requested (not applicable for Intrastat). If due
Germany
Intrastat M 10 of N+1 (electronic/paper) D: 400,000 date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Annual requirement May 31 (electronic)
26 of N+1. The due date is the last day of N+1 in case of nil/credit
VAT M/Q
VAT returns (electronic - paper by exception)
ESL M 26 of N+1 (electronic) A: 115,000
Greece If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 26 of N+1 (electronic) D: 90,000
10th of Y+4 / 20th of Y+5 depending on the type of accounting
Annual requirement
books maintained (electronic - paper by exception)
VAT M/Q 20 of N+1 (electronic)
ESL M/Q 20 of N+1 (electronic) A: 330,000*
Hungary If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 15 of N+1 (electronic) D: 330,000*
Annual requirement February 15 (electronic)
VAT 2M 23 of N+1 (electronic) - 19 of N+1 (paper)
ESL M/ Q Last WD of N+1 (electronic) A: 191,000
Ireland If due date is a NWD, due date becomes previous WD
Intrastat M 10WD of N+1 (electronic) D: 635,000
Annual requirement 23 of Y+1 (electronic)- 19 of Y+1 (paper)
M 16 of N+1 (electronic)
VAT
Q 16 of N+2 (electronic)
ESL M/Q 25 of N+1 (electronic) A: 50,000 Monthly calculation and payment / Annual VAT return. If due date is a
Italy
Intrastat M/Q 25 of N+1 (electronic) D: 50,000 NWD, due date becomes next WD
Annual communication: End of February - Annual return: End of
Annual requirement
September (electronic)
VAT M/Q/6M 20 of N+1 (electronic) - 15 of N+1 (paper)
ESL M 20 of N+1 (electronic) - 15 of N+1 (paper) A: 142,287* Annual return should be filed only if certain criteria are met. If due date is
Latvia
Intrastat M 10 of N+1 (electronic/paper) D: 142,287* a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Annual requirement May 1 (electronic/paper)
VAT M 25 of N+1 (electronic/paper)
ESL M 25 of N+1 (electronic/paper) A: 188,253*
Lithuania If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 10WD of N+1 (electronic/paper) D: 202,734*
Annual requirement N.A.
VAT M/Q 15 of N+15 (electronic/paper)
ESL M/Q 25 of N+1 (electronic) - 15 of N+1 (paper)
A: 200,000 If due date is a NWD, due date becomes previous WD.
Luxembourg Intrastat M 16WD of N+1 (electronic) - 6 WD of N+1 (paper)
D: 150,000 An 8 month extension is granted in practice for annual VAT returns
1st March if annual or 1st May if recapitulative return
Annual requirement
(paper/electronic)
VAT M/Q 15 of N+2 (electronic/paper)
ESL M/Q 15 of N+2 (electronic) A: 700
Malta If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 10WD of N+1 (paper) D: 700
Annual requirement February 15 (paper)
VAT M/Q 30 of N+1 (electronic/paper (depending on the taxpayer))
Last day of the month (electronic/paper (depending on the Foreign VAT taxable persons submit monthly or quarterly returns due 30
ESL M/Q A: 900,000
Netherlands taxpayer)) N+2. Small companies may submit annual return due 30th March of the
D: 900,000
Intrastat M 8WD of N+1 (electronic) following year. If due date is a NWD, due date becomes previous WD
Annual requirement N.A.
VAT M/2M/Q/Y 10 of N+2 (electronic)
ESL N.A.
Norway N.A. If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat N.A.
Annual requirement N.A.
VAT M/Q 25 of N+1 (electronic/paper)
ESL M/Q 25 of N+1 (electronic) - 15 of N+1 (paper) A: 259,599*
Poland If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 10WD of N+1 (electronic) D: 259,599*
Annual requirement N.A.
M 10 of N+2 (electronic)
VAT
Q 15 of N+2 (electronic)
A: 200,000
Portugal ESL M/Q 20 of N+1 (electronic) If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
D: 250,000
Intrastat M 10WD of N+1 (electronic)
Annual requirement Last WD of June (electronic)
VAT M/Q 25 of N+1 (electronic/paper (depending on the taxpayer)) Monthly/quarterly reporting (by 25 of N+1) should be done for
ESL M 25 of N+1 (electronic/paper (depending on the taxpayer)) A: 68,907* transactions performed on national territory. Half-yearly / yearly VAT
Romania
Intrastat M 15 of N+1 (electronic) D: 206,721* reporting may apply under certain conditions. If due date is a NWD, due
Annual requirement N.A. date becomes next WD
VAT M/Q 25 of N+1 (electronic/paper)
ESL M/Q 20 of N+1 (electronic) A: 200,000
Slovakia If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 15 of N+1 (electronic) D: 400,000
Annual requirement N.A.
VAT M/Q Last WD of N+1 (electronic)
ESL Q 20 of N+1 (electronic) A: 120,000
Slovenia If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat M 15 of N+1 (electronic/paper) D: 200,000
Annual requirement N.A.
VAT M/Q 20 of N+1 (electronic/paper (depending on the taxpayer))
VAT Returns and ESL for July are extended to September 20.
ESL M/Q/Y 20 of N+1 (electronic/paper (depending on the taxpayer)) A: 250,000
Spain VAT Return and ESL for December are due on 30 of N+1.
Intrastat M 12 of N+1 (electronic - paper by exception) D: 250,000
If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Annual requirement January 30 (electronic/paper (depending on the taxpayer))
VAT M/Q 26 of N+1 (electronic/paper)
ESL M/Q 25 of N+1 (electronic) - 20 of N+1 (paper) A: 500,000* Annual turnover less than SEK 40 million (approx. €4.5 million) VAT filing is
Sweden
Intrastat M 10WD of N+1 (electronic/paper) D: 500,000* due on the 12 of N+2. If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Annual requirement N.A.
VAT Q Last WD of N+2 (paper)
ESL N.A.
Switzerland N.A. If due date is a NWD, due date becomes next WD
Intrastat N.A.
Annual requirement N.A.
VAT M/Q Last WD of N+1 (electronic)
United ESL M/Q 21 of N+1 (electronic) - 14 of N+1 (paper) A: 720,000*
If due date is a NWD, due date becomes previous WD
Kingdom Intrastat M 21 of N+1 (electronic) D: 300,000*
Annual requirement N.A.