EU propose making online platforms liable for VAT on sales made by non-EU businesses

30 June 2017

The EU Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) is proposing to make online marketplaces liable for the VAT on certain online sales of imported goods made by non-EU merchants via their portals.

It is hoped that this will reduce VAT fraud which is rife in this industry and, if accepted, it would only apply where the imported goods are at a value of less than €150 and the intermediary has an annual turnover of over €1M (or the equivalent in national currency).