Press releases
Taxation and Customs Union
Taxation: Commission presents options for simpler and more robust future VAT regime
30/10/2014
European Commission Press release Brussels, 30 October 2014 Ideas on how to ensure a simpler, more effective and more fraud-proof VAT system tailored to the Single Market in the EU have been outlined in a paper published by the Commission today.
Reform of the VAT system: Frequently asked questions
30/10/2014
European Commission MEMO Brussels, 30 October 2014 See also IP/14/1216 What is VAT? VAT is a consumption tax, charged on most goods and services traded for use or consumption in the EU. It is levied on the "value added" to the product at each stage of production and distribution.
Commissioner Šemeta welcomes the signature of the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement
29/10/2014
European Commission Statement Brussels, 29 October 2014 I am pleased that today Finance Ministers from 50 countries and jurisdictions have signed a Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the implementation of the Global Standard for the automatic exchange of financial account information.
VAT gap: Frequently asked questions
23/10/2014
European Commission MEMO Brussels, 23 October 2014 See also IP/14/1187 What is VAT? VAT is a consumption tax, charged on most goods and services traded for use or consumption in the EU. It is levied on the "value added" to the product at each stage of production and distribution.
Taxation: Study confirms billions lost in VAT Gap
23/10/2014
European Commission Press release Brussels, 23 October 2014 An estimated €177 billion in VAT revenues was lost due to non-compliance or non-collection in 2012, according to the latest VAT Gap study published by the Commission today. This equates to 16% of total expected VAT revenue of 26 Member States1.
Taxation: Belgium before the EU Court of Justice for discriminatory taxation of collective investment undertakings
16/10/2014
European Commission Press release Brussels, 16 October 2014 The European Commission has decided to refer Belgium to the EU Court of Justice for discriminatory taxation of collective investment undertakings (CIUs) established in other Member States of the EU or of the EEA.
October infringements package: main decisions
16/10/2014
European Commission MEMO Brussels, 16 October 2014 October October In its monthly package of infringement decisions, the European Commission is pursuing legal action against Member States for failing to comply properly with their obligations under EU law.
Automatic exchange of information: frequently asked questions
15/10/2014
European Commission MEMO Brussels, 15 October 2014 What is the automatic exchange of information for tax purposes? The automatic exchange of information is regarded as the best system for ensuring that national tax authorities can assess and collect the taxes they are due on income and capital that their residents...
Speaking points by Commissioner Šemeta at the ECOFIN press conference
14/10/2014
European Commission [Check Against Delivery] Algirdas Šemeta Commissioner responsible for Taxation and Customs Union, Statistics, Audit and Anti-fraud Economic and Finance Ministers Council Luxembourg, 14 October 2014 Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so pleased that the last ECOFIN meeting of this Commission mandate has been such an interesting and fruitful...
State aid: Commission investigates transfer pricing arrangements on corporate taxation of Amazon in Luxembourg
07/10/2014
European Commission Press release Brussels, 7 October 2014 The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to examine whether the decision by Luxembourg's tax authorities with regard to the corporate income tax to be paid by Amazon in Luxembourg comply with the EU rules on state aid.
Operation REPLICA: 1.2 million counterfeit goods and 130 million cigarettes seized in EU-led operation
06/10/2014
European Commission Press release Brussels, 6 October 2014 Over 1.2 million counterfeit goods and 130 million cigarettes were seized during an international joint customs operation coordinated by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). The Operation, code-named REPLICA, targeted the import of counterfeit goods by sea.