vat newsletter - issue no. 1, 2015 - ey

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Issue No. 1, 2015 VAT Newsletter Welcome to the first issue of Ernst & Young LLP’s 2015 VAT Newsletter for the US and Canada. These newsletters cover a variety of topics, as VAT can impact businesses in many ways. Approximately 150 countries now have a VAT, goods and services tax (GST), consumption tax, service tax, or similar VAT, and the laws and regulations are constantly changing. We use this newsletter to inform you of significant changes taking place. At the end of this newsletter, you will find contact details for the senior members of our team who can help answer any questions you may have about the articles in this newsletter or any other VAT questions. We are interested in your feedback on the items covered and what topics you would like to see covered in the future. Please provide any feedback to Howard Lambert at [email protected]. If you would like to subscribe to EY’s other indirect tax updates, please click here. Global EY’s 2014 Worldwide VAT, GST and Sales Tax Guide EY’s Indirect Tax Briefing, 11th edition Americas Bahamas — Impact of VAT on the travel sector Suriname — Introduction of a VAT Asia-Pacific India — GST developments Japan — Postponement of increase in consumption tax rate Thailand — Updated additional tax invoicing requirements effective 1 January 2015 Introduction Summary

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Page 1: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

Issue No. 1, 2015

VAT Newsletter

Welcome to the first issue of Ernst & Young LLP’s 2015 VAT Newsletter for the US and Canada. These newsletters cover a variety of topics, as VAT can impact businesses in many ways. Approximately 150 countries now have a VAT, goods and services tax (GST), consumption tax, service tax, or similar VAT, and the laws and regulations are constantly changing. We use this newsletter to inform you of significant changes taking place.

At the end of this newsletter, you will find contact details for the senior members of our team who can help answer any questions you may have about the articles in this newsletter or any other VAT questions.

We are interested in your feedback on the items covered and what topics you would like to see covered in the future. Please provide any feedback to Howard Lambert at [email protected].

If you would like to subscribe to EY’s other indirect tax updates, please click here.

GlobalEY’s 2014 Worldwide VAT, GST and Sales Tax Guide

EY’s Indirect Tax Briefing, 11th edition

AmericasBahamas — Impact of VAT on the travel sector

Suriname — Introduction of a VAT

Asia-PacificIndia — GST developments

Japan — Postponement of increase in consumption tax rate

Thailand — Updated additional tax invoicing requirements effective 1 January 2015

Introduction

Summary

Page 2: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

VAT newsletter | 2January 2015 — Issue 1

EY’s 2014 Worldwide VAT, GST and Sales Tax GuideYou can access the latest guide here.

EY’s Indirect Tax Briefing: a review of global indirect tax developments and issues, 11th editionYou can access the latest briefing here.

Global EuropeEuropean Union — Massive VAT losses highlight need for major changes, Commission says

European Union — Commission report points to opportunities to improve national tax systems

European Union — EY report on MOSS published by Commission

European Court of Justice — Judgment permits reliance on both domestic VAT law and direct effect of EU law for sales transactions

Belgium — Supply of gas through a natural gas system

Hungary — Registration

Luxembourg — VAT rate increases

Portugal — Cancellation of proposed VAT rate change

Russia — VAT exemptions for imported scientific research products

Spain — Real-time VAT data from largest companies, corporations

Switzerland — VAT liability and group taxation — changes to the VAT Ordinance as of 1 January 2015

Ukraine — VAT rules for imported medical devices clarified

Middle East, India and Africa Nigeria – Exemption on certain stock exchange transactions from VAT

Zambia – 2015 budget proposals

Page 3: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

VAT newsletter | 3January 2015 — Issue 1

Americas

Bahamas — Impact of VAT on the travel sectorEffective 1 January 2015, The Bahamas is to introduce VAT with a standard rate of 7.5%. VAT will apply to taxable supplies made by taxable persons in The Bahamas as well as applying to taxable importations by any persons. There are a few important points that need to be taken into consideration:

• Hotel accommodation in The Bahamas (plus ancillary charges) will be subject to VAT at 7.5%.

• Live entertainment and excursions will be subject to VAT at 7.5%.

For a copy of the latest guide issued by the Government of the Bahamas, click here.

Suriname — Introduction of a VATSuriname is planning to introduce a value-added tax (VAT) Effective 1 January 2016, pursuant to a recommendation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It is expected that VAT will replace the current tax on turnover and that basic foodstuffs will be zero-rated. There are also plans to reduce the income tax burden for low-income earners.

In a press release dated 31 October 2014 concerning its Article IV consultation with Suriname, the IMF noted that the introduction of the tax is necessary to secure the fiscal and economic progress that the country has made in recent years.

Page 4: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

January 2015 — Issue 1 VAT newsletter | 4

India — GST developmentsDiscussions around GST have gathered pace in India in recent months. The newly Amended Constitution Amendment Bill was tabled in the Lower House of the Indian parliament on 19 December 2014. The bill is expected to be debated and passed during the budget session starting February 2015.

The new Government is looking at potential implementation of GST in April 2016. While there have been many false alarms around GST in the past years, this time around, the Government seems to be serious about its implementation in April 2016, and industry interest is very high.

Ernst & Young LLP (India) (EY India) releases a quarterly magazine called India Tax Insights. The October-December 2014 quarter was a special GST edition with some very interesting articles around GST covering views of industry, experts and EY India partners.

Visit www.ey.com/indiataxinsights for an online version of India Tax Insights – GST special edition. EY India has also launched a GST external client portal at www.ey.com/in/GST that is useful for understanding the India GST developments.

Japan — Postponement of increase in consumption tax rateOn 18 November 2014, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the postponement of the increase

in the consumption tax rate to 10%. The rate increase was set to take effect as of 1 October 2015. The revised Consumption Tax Law enacted on 22 August 2012 (the CTL) prescribed an increase in the tax in two phases: first, an increase to 8% as of 1 April 2014, and then an increase to 10% as of 1 October 2015. However, the CTL also included an “economic resiliency” clause that, if applied, would suspend the implementation of the tax rate increase.

The “economic resiliency” clause subjects the increase in the consumption tax to the condition of improvement in economic conditions and states that before the rate is increased, various economic indicators, such as nominal GDP, real GDP and price trends, as well as the general state of the economy, will be considered. Based on these considerations, the clause states that necessary measures, including suspending implementation of the rate increase, will be taken.

Timing of a future rate increaseThe Prime Minister announced that the consumption tax increase to 10% will be postponed until 1 April 2017. The postponement will not include an “economic resiliency” clause, and there will be no subsequent postponement. In order to proceed with the postponement, the law must be amended during next year’s regular Diet session, where it will be considered.

Introduction of a reduced tax rateConsideration of a reduced consumption tax rate on certain daily necessities such as foodstuffs is expected to continue. An idea has been suggested to introduce it at the same time as the above-mentioned rate increase to 10%, in light of the time it would take to design the mechanism and for companies to prepare for the changes.

Expected timeline for revisions regarding cross-border transactionsThe topic of services such as digital content provided by overseas businesses had been expected to be addressed in the 2015 tax reform. The specific direction of the tax reform is normally announced in the ruling party’s outline of tax reform proposals each December, but this year’s official announcement is likely to be delayed until the beginning of next year due to the dissolving of the current Parliament and the upcoming election.

Asia-Pacific

Page 5: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

January 2015 — Issue 1 VAT newsletter | 5

Thailand — Updated additional tax invoicing requirements effective 1 January 2015In May 2013, the Revenue Department issued the Director General (DG) Notification on VAT Nos. 194, 195, 196 and 197 requiring the VAT operator to enter additional information in their tax invoices, VAT credit notes and VAT debit notes, as well as their input VAT and output VAT reports (“VAT documents”).

These additional requirements were for collecting taxpayers’ information so that the tax authority will be able to perform a quick cross-check of information when the tax audit is undertaken.

These requirements were originally scheduled to come into force starting from 1 January 2014. However, in late December 2013, the Revenue Department issued a new set of DG Notifications dated 26 December 2013 to revoke the previous DG Notifications and defer the implementation date by another year (i.e., 1 January 2015). Under the new notifications, key changes are highlighted below.

Additional contents required in tax invoice, VAT credit notes and VAT debit notes:

• Tax identification number of the customer who is registered for VAT

• Identification of business place’s details of supplier and customer:

• For head office, identified as “Head Office,” “HO,” “HQ” or five zeroes (“00000”)

• For branch office, identified as “Branch Number …,” “br. no. …” or five branch number digits as per the customer’s VAT certificate

Additional information contents required in the input VAT and output VAT reports:

Input VAT reports:

• Tax identification number of the seller of goods or services

• Identification of place of business of the seller of the goods or service, which is presented on the tax invoice, VAT credit notes and VAT debit notes, as “Head Office” or “Branch Number …”

Output VAT reports:

• Tax identification number of the customer who is registered for VAT

• Identification of business place’s details of the customer who is registered for VAT, which is presented on the tax invoice, VAT credit notes and VAT debit notes, as “Head Office” or “Branch Number …”

In comparison between the old and new notifications, the latter makes more practical sense to VAT operator since the requirement to add customers’ tax ID number is now limited only to those who are registered as VAT operators and entitled to recover the input VAT. This will facilitate compliance by VAT operators since the required additional information of VAT-registered customers and suppliers can be cross-checked from database provided on the Revenue Department’s website — click here.

For further details, please refer to the Notification of the Director General on VAT Nos. 199, 200, 201 and 202 and VAT reports that were attached to the Notification dated 26 December 2013. Contact EY Indirect Tax Services if you require any assistance on this matter.

Page 6: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

January 2015 — Issue 1 VAT newsletter | 6

Europe

European Union — Massive VAT losses highlight need for major changes, Commission saysA new study concluding that European Union Member States lost more than US$200 billion in value-added-tax revenue in 2012 underlines the need for changes to the patchwork VAT system, according to the European Commission. Based on the Commission-sponsored study, the difference between what should have been collected by EU Member States and what was actually collected — the “VAT gap” — was US$224 billion. In addition to widely different approaches taken by EU Member States when it comes to rates on certain products, the commission said the report, issued 22 October, proves EU Member States’ continued rejection of proposals for more harmonization has significant fiscal costs. “The VAT gap is essentially a marker of how effective — or not — VAT enforcement and compliance measures are across the EU,” said EU Taxation Commissioner Algirdas Semeta. “Today’s figures show there is a lot more work to be done. Member States cannot afford revenue losses of this scale.” The Commission remains focused on a “fundamental reform” of the VAT system, Semeta said, including elimination of exemptions in place for different product groups.

European Union — Commission report points to opportunities to improve national tax systemsThe European Commission has published the report “Tax reforms in EU Member States 2014 — Tax policy challenges for economic growth and fiscal sustainability.” It provides an annual review of the most important tax reforms implemented by EU Member States and identifies the main tax policy challenges they are facing. For further information click here.

European Union — EY report on MOSS published by CommissionThe European Commission has now published the report that EY has prepared regarding the mini one-stop scheme (MOSS). It contains essentially practical and compliance obligations rules (obligation to issue an invoice, contact details of the relevant tax authorities, etc.), but also high-level information on rules provided for under the VAT directive that are either optional or whose implementation may vary from one Member State to another.

The report can be accessed under the heading “Information on selected national VAT rules,” and all the relevant explanation is detailed in the attached instructions for use at the following link:

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/vat/how_vat_works/telecom/index_en.htm#national_rules

European Court of Justice — Judgment permits reliance on both domestic VAT law and direct effect of EU law for sales transactions The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivered its judgment in the case of GMAC UK plc (GMAC) (C-589/12), a UK referral from the Upper Tribunal, on 3 September. The case concerns the extent to which a taxable person, who makes two sales of the same goods, is entitled both to rely on the direct effect of a provision of EU law in relation to one transaction and to rely on the provisions of domestic law in relation to the other transaction, in circumstances where this would lead to an overall value-added tax (VAT) result that neither EU law nor domestic law intended. In the present case, GMAC contended that as it charged VAT on the supply of cars under hire-purchase (HP) agreements, if a customer defaulted on the HP contract, it

Page 7: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

VAT newsletter | 7January 2015 — Issue 1

was entitled, under EU law, to claim VAT bad debt relief. Further, if the repossessed car was subsequently sold at auction, there was no VAT due under domestic VAT rules. In its judgment, the CJEU effectively endorsed the taxpayer’s approach.

Belgium — Supply of gas through a natural gas systemThe Belgian VAT authorities published a new decision (E.T. 126.566 of 3 October 2014) in which they comment on the scope of article 38 of the VAT Directive (article 14 bis of the Belgian VAT code) regarding the place of supply rules for supplies of gas to taxable dealers through a natural gas system situated within the territory of the EU, or any network connected to such a system. According to article 38 of the VAT Directive, these supplies are deemed to take place where the taxable dealer (i.e., the customer) is established. The Belgian VAT authorities confirmed in the new decision that article 38 of the VAT Directive covers only the situation where, at the time of the supply, (i) gas is located in the natural gas system itself or (ii) gas is located on board of a vessel that is connected to the natural gas system. Article 38 of the VAT Directive cannot be used in other situations (e.g., supply of gas through natural gas systems located outside the EU or supply of gas on board of vessels not connected to an EU natural gas system). For these supplies, the default place of supply rules apply. The decision seems to cover only the supplies to taxable dealers and not the supplies to customers not operating as taxable dealers (covered by article 39 of the VAT Directive).

Hungary — RegistrationForeign taxable persons are currently not required to obtain a VAT number in Hungary, provided their supply of goods is performed in VAT warehouses and the goods are not released from the warehouse, or if the release is performed to third countries in the framework of export customs procedures. From now on, foreign taxable persons may also be exempt from Hungarian VAT registration if the release was performed under the legal title of intra-Community supply of goods and if the remover of the goods agrees with the operator of the warehouse, in writing, that the warehouse operator shall take over the reporting of the intra-Community supply of goods. In such cases the warehouse operator and the foreign taxable person performing the intra-Community supply of goods shall be jointly and severally liable for complying with tax liabilities. There are additional detailed rules concerning the applicability of this business model.

Luxembourg — VAT rate increasesEffective 1 January 2015, the standard VAT rate was increased to 17% from 15%, the intermediate VAT rate was increased to 14% from 12% and the reduced rate was increased to 8% from 6%. The super-reduced rate of 3% was not affected by the VAT rate increase. However, it will not be applicable on the serving of alcoholic beverages as well as on the construction work of a house that is intended for renting anymore.

Page 8: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

VAT newsletter | 8January 2015 — Issue 1

Portugal — Cancellation of proposed VAT rate change The planned increase of the Portuguese VAT rate (from 23% to 23.25%, announced on 30 April 2014) will not now take place. This was announced in the recent Proposal of the Budget Law for 2015 presented by the Portuguese Government.

Russia — VAT exemptions for imported scientific research productsThe Russian Government released new regulations on value-added-tax exemptions applicable to imported products. In Decree No. 1096, the Government approved a list of scientific research materials that can be imported into Russia on VAT-exempt basis, the government press service said in an 27 October statement. Imports of research materials that aren’t produced in Russia can be exempted from VAT, it said. Federal Law No. 151-FZ, dated 4 June, amended Article 150 of the Russian Tax Code, according to the statement. The amended Subsection 17, Article 150, which allowed VAT-exempt imports of scientific research materials into Russia, took effect 1 October, it said.

Spain — Real-time VAT data from largest companies, corporationsThe Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) has announced a new value-added tax management system that will require about 62,000 large companies to provide the tax authorities with “real time” billing information online. On 20 October, the AEAT said the Immediate Information Delivery system will enter into force 1 January 2017, following the adaptation of agency computer systems and the approval of any necessary regulations.

Switzerland — VAT liability and group taxation — changes to the VAT Ordinance as of 1 January 2015The Federal Council decided on 12 November 2014 to make two important changes to the VAT Ordinance (VATO) concerning the value-added-tax liability for foreign companies and group taxation respectively. The changes came into force on 1 January 2015.

Expanded VAT liability of foreign companies Effective 1 January 2015, foreign companies become VAT liable in Switzerland if they carry out domestic supplies subject to acquisition tax (reverse charge) and the revenue generated from the supplies exceeds CHF100,000 per year. This provision shall apply until the date of entry into force of the revised VAT law, which will impose an even more extensive VAT registration liability on foreign companies in Switzerland.

The current provision in article.10.2.b of the VAT law stipulates that companies domiciled abroad, that provide supplies exclusively subject to acquisition tax, are excluded from VAT liability in Switzerland. The new provision art. 9a in the VATO will stipulate that this will apply only to supplies of and no longer to supplies of goods.

This provision will affect primarily foreign companies that conduct work in the construction industry and services ancillary to construction in Switzerland. However, the new provision will also affect all foreign suppliers of electricity or natural gas in pipelines, as these supplies also are subject to acquisition tax. Moreover, this will affect foreign companies that rent out or lease goods, or provide maintenance work in Switzerland.

Because a potential tax liability in Switzerland has to be self-assessed, the foreign company has to clarify its VAT liability in Switzerland and register accordingly if required to do so. Hence, foreign companies should carefully consider whether the supplies they render trigger a VAT liability in Switzerland, and if so, register for VAT. As regards Swiss companies purchasing supplies from abroad, it is advisable to practice caution when the foreign supplier does not invoice Swiss VAT. In particular there is the risk that the Swiss Federal Tax Administration levies acquisition tax on the purchase of supplies, such as the ones mentioned above, even if the foreign entity had an obligation to register for VAT in Switzerland.

Page 9: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

VAT newsletter | 9January 2015 — Issue 1

Pension funds – membership in VAT groups newly allowedArt. 16, para. 3, of the VATO — concerning members of a VAT group — will be repealed with effect 1 January 2015. This article explicitly excluded pension funds from becoming a member of a VAT group. Already in its judgment 2C_153/2013, dated 16 August 2013, the Swiss Federal Court ruled that art. 16, para. 3, of the VATO (at least partially) violates the VAT law. Following this judgment, the Federal Council has removed the controversial stipulation out of the VATO.

As a consequence, the legal situation will revert to the status as it was before the enactment of the VATO. Art. 13 of the VAT law states that legal entities with their place of business or a permanent establishment in Switzerland that are closely associated with one another under the common management of a single legal entity may on request be registered as a single taxable person (a VAT group). Legal entities that do not conduct business activities, as well as individuals, can also become members of a VAT group. Furthermore, in the commentary to the VAT law, it was expressly stipulated that it is conceivable that pension funds (by means of dependency agreement) could become members of a VAT group.

It is clear from the decision of the Federal Court that a pension fund (typically a foundation) can become a member of a VAT group with other companies, as long as the pension fund is the head of the group. However, at this time, it is unclear whether the repeal of the stipulation in the VATO means that a pension fund can also be simply a member of a VAT group, under the management of another group member. This view is supported by the complete elimination of art. 16, para. 3, from VATO and the fact that the legislator considered the inclusion of pension funds in a VAT group as feasible.

Introducing such flexibility of group taxation would be welcomed, as it would allow pension funds to save costs. Currently, VAT costs can be avoided only by having a founding company supplying free administrative services to its own pension fund. In terms of cost transparency, it would be welcomed if such services could be invoiced within a VAT group without VAT.

In order to include a pension fund in a VAT group with its founding company and its subsidiaries from 1 January 2016, the application for group taxation must be submitted this year. A further possibility would be the formation of a VAT group with several pension funds, with the aim of reducing the non-recoverable input VAT on the mutually rendered administrative services.

It is likely that the Swiss Federal Tax Administration will consider each application of such nature very critically. However, a rejection of the application, purely on the basis of art. 16, para. 3, of the VATO, will no longer be possible.

Ukraine — VAT rules for imported medical devices clarifiedOn 14 October, the Ukrainian State Financial Service issued Letter No. 6875/7/99-99-19-03-02-17 to clarify how imported devices could benefit from a lower VAT rate. Decree No. 410 of the Ukrainian cabinet of ministers, which approved a new list of devices subject to the preferential VAT rate of 7%, was effective 10 September, the letter said. Decree No. 216, dated 1 July and which approved an earlier list of devices subject to the preferential VAT rate, is no longer effective, it said. Devices included on the earlier list but excluded from the current list must pay the regular VAT rate of 20% regardless of the date of import into Ukraine, the letter said.

Page 10: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

VAT newsletter | 10January 2015 — Issue 1

Nigeria — Exemption on certain stock exchange transactions from VAT The Finance Minister, in exercise of her powers under section 38 of the Value-Added Tax Act, Cap V1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (VAT Act), has issued an order titled “Value-Added Tax (Exemption of Commissions on Stock Exchange Transactions) Order 2014” to exempt VAT on certain stock exchange transactions for a period of five years. This exemption is aimed at encouraging the increase in stock exchange transactions by bringing down the average cost of transactions on the stock market.

Zambia — 2015 budget proposalsThe Value-Added Tax (VAT) Act is to be amended to restrict the deduction of input tax for an intending trader and provide for the Commissioner General to make administrative rules on the deduction of input tax incurred by intending traders. This measure will restrict input tax deductible by intending traders to

corresponding business lines after the expiry of the period where one has not commenced trading.

Section 17 of the VAT Act will be amended to clarify the effective date of charging penalties on delayed payments of tax due on a VAT return. This measure is intended to ensure that the penalty for late payment is linked to the due date of the return. Currently, the penalty on late submission is linked to the date of submission of the return instead of the due date of the payment.

The VAT Act will be amended to provide clarity on what items qualify for zero-rating under the project funded by donor funds or co-financed with the Government. The measure is intended to clarify that only goods and services that are deductible under the VAT Act qualify for zero-rating under the relevant agreements and the goods/services qualifying are those for the project/program and not for the contractors, so as to avoid possible abuse.

Middle East, India and Africa

Page 11: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

VAT newsletter | 11January 2015 — Issue 1

If you would like a copy of a green paper, newsletter or alerts covering some of the topics mentioned below, please click on the link or contact Howard Lambert at [email protected].

Albania: to Ernst & Young Albania sh.p.k has recently issued a global Tax Alert regarding its VAT law that is aimed at aligning Albania’s domestic law with European VAT rules. This Tax Alert highlights the main changes and their impact on business.

Canada: Tax Matters, November 2014: Ernst & Young LLP (Canada) has recently issued the November 2014 issue of its monthly client newsletter, Tax Matters. From an indirect tax perspective, this issue features the following items:

• Time to calculate GST/HST taxable employee benefits

• What boards should know about the OECD’s BEPS project

• A recent Tax Court of Canada decision that found trading within an RRSP is not evidence of a trading business

Croatia: EY Tax News: Ernst & Young d.o.o. has recently published the June 2014 edition of its regular client newsletter, Tax News. From an indirect tax perspective, the edition includes the following items:

• Proposed amendments to the Croatian VAT Act

• Proposed amendments to the Croatian Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) Act

Czech Republic: EY Tax News, October 2014: Ernst & Young s.r.o. has recently issued the October 2014 edition of its regular client newsletter, Tax News. From an indirect tax perspective, this edition includes the following items:

• Tax code amendment

• VAT amendments — MOSS, VAT rate amendment, technical amendment (expansion of reverse-change mechanism and changes regarding real estate transfers)

• Tax administrator visits

• Summary and implications of the recent Scandia CJEU judgment

Estonia: VAT — Obligation to declare €1,000 invoices.

France: France is progressing on the expansion of electronic data processing audit, and this applies also to companies that are solely VAT-registered in France. This is a hot topic since it applies to tax audits that have been taking place since the beginning of 2014.

Germany: VAT Newsletter, September and October 2014: VAT Newsletter issued by Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftspruefungsgesellschaft that includes details of changes to the German annual VAT return.

Ghana: On 19 November 2014, the 2015 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana were presented to the Ghanaian Parliament. This includes the imposition of value-added tax (VAT) on fee-based financial services and the imposition of a 5% flat VAT rate on real estate transactions.

Hungary: EY Tax Express: 10/2014 and 10/2015: Ernst & Young Tanácsadó Korlátolt Felelõsségû Társaság has issued the latest edition of Tax Express that summarizes the most significant tax changes expected for 2015.

Ireland: VAT treatment of cross-border intracompany transactions involving a VAT group — tax authority view.

Latvia: Tax Newsletters, September and October 2014.

Malaysia: 2015 budget proposal: On 10 October 2014, Malaysia’s Finance Minister delivered the 2015 budget speech. This included details of the expanded scope of items that are not subject to GST. A global Tax Alert that outlines the key items in the budget is now available on ey.com and can be shared with your clients.

EY newsletters and alerts

Page 12: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

January 2015 — Issue 1 VAT newsletter | 12

Netherlands: Tax Update Weekly: Weekly client e-newsletter — Issues 41 through 48, all from 2014 — a roundup of VAT news from the Netherlands, EU and other countries.

Slovakia: EY Tax News, July 2014. Ernst & Young k.s. (EY Slovakia) has recently issued the July 2014 issue of its regular client publication, EY Tax News. The following items may be of interest from an indirect tax perspective:

• Opinion of the Advocate General (AG) on the possibility of fixed establishment creation for VAT purposes

• The Financial Directorate’s new guideline on VAT ledger

Slovakia: EY Tax News, August 2014: EY Slovakia has recently issued the August 2014 issue of its regular client publication, EY Tax News. The following items may be of interest from an indirect tax perspective:

• Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) judgment on Skandia: VAT due on intragroup supplies

• Upcoming changes to the VAT Act – how could you be affected?

• Workshop – tax obstacles in retail business

Slovakia: Tax News, September 2014: EY Slovakia has recently issued the September 2014 edition of its regular client newsletter, EY Tax News. From an indirect tax perspective this edition includes an item on CJEU case C-492/13 Traum EOOD regarding the VAT treatment on intra-Community supplies where transactions were subsequently found to be fraudulent.

UK: VAT News, weeks ending 13 October 2014, 20 October 2014, 27 October 2014, 3 November 2014, 17 November 2014 and 24 November 2014. Weekly client e-newsletter — a roundup of VAT news from the UK, the EU and other countries.

Page 13: VAT Newsletter - Issue No. 1, 2015 - EY

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This material has been prepared for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as accounting, tax, or other professional advice. Please refer to your advisors for specific advice.

US VAT practice leaders:

Karen Christie New York, NY +1 212 773 5552 [email protected]

Ronnie Dassen New York, NY +1 212 773 6458 [email protected]

Anne Freden San Francisco, CA +1 415 894 8732 [email protected]

Ela Choina Chicago, IL +1 312 879 2935 [email protected]

Gino Dossche New York, NY +1 212 773 6027 [email protected]

Canada GST leader

Jean-Hugues Chabot Montreal, Quebec 1 514 874 4345 [email protected]

Regional resources:

Alex Cotopoulis New York, NY +1 212 773 8216 [email protected]

Maria Hevia Alvarez New York, NY +1 648 831 2187 [email protected]

Deirdre Hogan San Francisco, CA +1 415 894 4926 [email protected]

Corin Hobbs San Jose, CA +1 408 947 6808 [email protected]

Howard Lambert Irvine, CA +1 949 437 0461 [email protected]

Steve Patton New York, NY +1 212 773 2827 [email protected]

Peter Molnar New York, NY +1 212 773 1329 [email protected]

Alison Murphy Toronto, Ontario 1 416 932 5878 [email protected]

Ernst & Young LLP