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Tax Policy

April 2020

European Commission


EU to suspend tariffs, VAT on medical equipment to fight Covid-19

The European Commission has proposed to temporarily allow EU member states to suspend tariffs and VAT on imported protective medical equipment in response to the worsening Covid-19 crisis.

The Commission decision will be applicable from 30 January 2020 until 31 July 2020. This allows imports carried out during the incipient phase of the outbreak to also benefit from the exemption.

The move comes after several EU governments asked the commission to authorize the suspension of both levies at the national level. Read more

European Commission calls for applications to expert group on exchange of payment data to combat VAT fraud

The European Commission has opened a call for candidates to a new expert group it is setting up on the exchange and transmit of payment data to combat VAT fraud.

The group’s tasks shall be to assist DG TAXUD in the implementation of article 24c of the amended Regulation (EU) 904/2010 on administrative cooperation and combating VAT fraud, and in the implementation of the legislative package introducing transmission and exchange of payment data to fight VAT fraud and the development of the Central Electronic System of Payment information (“CESOP”).

The deadline for applications is 24 April. Read more 

OECD proposes emergency tax measures to help curtail corona virus impact

The OECD has published a number of recommendations and best practices for governments’ tax measures to help alleviate the economic impact of the corona crisis.

Moreover, the OECD’s Forum on Tax Administration has published a compilation of measures that tax administrations could consider adopting and adapting to their national context.

US Treasury shows no signs of addressing EU’s FATCA concerns

The US Treasury is showing no signs of providing alleviations or further guidance to so-called ‘accidental Americans’ that must comply with the provisions of FATCA.

In a recent letter sent to the EU, the Treasury Department gives no indications of plans to relax foreign banks’ obligation to report information about US account holders, despite EU leaders expressing concerns about this. Read moreThis curated content was brought to you by Johan Barros, Accountancy Europe policy manager since 2015. You can send him tips by email, follow him on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn.