Since 2010, the Global Law Experts annual awards have been celebrating excellence, innovation and performance across the legal communities from around the world.
posted 6 years ago
As from 1 January 2015, new VAT place of supply rules will come into effect for EU cross-border business of electronically supplied services to non-taxable consumers (B2C). The new rules will shift the place of supply of e-services from the location of the supplier to the country of consumption or residence of the consumer.
The general rule and the exceptions to the general rule
The general rule for the supply of electronic supplied services to non-taxable persons (B2C) is that the place of supply is the place where the supplier is established for vat purposes. There is however one exception where the services are being supplied by a taxable person who has established his business outside the Community to non-taxable persons who are established in, or who have their permanent address or usually resides in an EU Member State. In this case the place of supply is the place where the non-taxable person is established, or where he has his permanent address or usually resides.
What is the current situation?
The current situation with respect to electronically supplied services to a non-taxable customer (B2C) is as follows:
What does the changes consist of?
With effect from 1st January 2015, the B2C supplies provided by EU suppliers to non-taxable customers within the EU will be treated as supplied in the EU member state where the recipient of the service is established, has a permanent address or usually resides.
What are electronically supplied services?
Electronically supplied services include services relating to website supply, webhosting, distance maintenance of programmes and equipment, supply of software and updating thereof, supply of images, text and information, and making available of databases, supply of music, films and games, including games of chance and gambling games, and of political, cultural, artistic, sporting, scientific and entertainment broadcasts and events, and the supply of distance teaching.
Electronically supplied services are generally defined as services the supply of which is essentially automated and involving minimal human intervention. Establishing whether the service is an electronically supplied service or otherwise is of paramount importance. Games where the outcome is determined by an automated random number generator require minimal or no human intervention at all, while games involving live events require more human intervention in the setting and amending of the odds, monitoring the event and analysing the statistics. The latter games involve more human intervention and will thus classify them as e-services.
What needs to be done?
Gaming companies established in Malta must therefore establish the jurisdiction in which their players are located so as to apply the correct VAT treatment. Verification of the client’s IP address is not sufficient and verification need to be backed up by other evidence of where the player usually resides.
Most EU member states apply an exemption from VAT on betting and gambling transactions, however each MS would have its own rules and conditions of how such an exemption will be applied. Furthermore not all EU MS apply a blanket exemption since some member states restrict the exemption to certain gaming activities such as land-based gaming activities.
In view of the change of supply rules, iGaming operators will as from 1 January 2015 might have to start charging VAT to their players who are located in these jurisdictions. The VAT rate will depend on the applicable rate of the member state concerned. Thus the following matters should be kept in mind:
posted 20 hours ago
posted 20 hours ago
posted 20 hours ago
posted 2 days ago
posted 4 days ago
posted 4 days ago
posted 6 days ago
No results available
ResetFind the right Legal Expert for your business
Global Law Experts is dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to clients around the world. With a vast network of highly skilled and experienced lawyers, we are committed to delivering innovative and tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of our clients in various jurisdictions.