"Settlement of VAT on triangular transactions does not have to be complicated," said Dr. Tomasz Tratkiewicz at the VAT conference in Rotterdam

Dr. Tomasz Tratkiewicz, Senior Economist at CASE, attended the TBM Evolution Group 3rd annual conference on VAT compliance in Rotterdam, on 13-14 September 2018.

The subject of the conference was “Strategic Indirect Tax & VAT Compliance”. During the conference, international experts discussed the latest VAT issues, like VAT implications of transfer pricing adjustments, indirect tax management in the digitalized world, the single VAT area, and the implications of Brexit on VAT and customs, among others.

The focus  of Dr. Tratkiewicz’s presentation was “VAT on triangular transactions”. Dr. Tratkiewicz discussed  potential risks of diverging interpretations in VAT and uncertainty for businesses in the field of cross-border chain transactions.

The CASE economist evaluated also new proposals submitted by the European Commission regarding chain transactions and suggested other measures which can be taken to make business life easier and reduce the compliance costs incurred by firms.  “Settlement of VAT on triangular transactions does not have to be complicated if we could rebuild a system towards the solution applied before the EU Court of Justice rulings appeared. I believe most businesses and tax administrations supported the strengthening of the role of the taxable person who arranges for the transportation of the goods in the triangular transaction,” said Dr. Tratkiewicz.  

The conference was organized by TBM Evolution Group with the aim of bringing together VAT experts to discuss current developments in the field.