EU VAT Forum 26 October 2016 – Brussels VAT gap Study EU VAT Forum 26 October 2016 – Brussels Cristian Largeanu – DG TAXUD
VAT gap = VAT(Expectation – Collection) VAT gap: 3 perspectives VAT gap = VAT(Expectation – Collection) VAT gap = revenue loss of 14% VAT gap = EUR 159.5 billion (2014) The VAT GAP is the overall difference between the expected VAT revenue (VTTL) and the amount actually collected. In 2014, the VAT Gap amounted to €159.5bn in the EU. This equates to a total revenue loss across the EU of 14.03%. In 2014, the VAT Gap amounted to €159.5bn in the EU
Sources of the VAT gap Maladministration (week tax collection systems) Fraud, evasion, avoidance Bankruptcies and insolvencies Miscalculations 1. Question: WHAT CAUSES THE VAT GAP ? 2. The VAT Gap is a measure of VAT compliance and enforcement that provides an estimate of revenue loss due to fraud and evasion, tax avoidance, bankruptcies, financial insolvencies, as well as miscalculations
2014: VAT gap in EU Member States (%) You can find out the full report, including figures on the website of the Commission. Here is the VAT gap as a percentage of the total liability. The smallest gaps were observed in Sweden (1.24%), Luxembourg (3.80%) and Finland (6.92%). The largest gaps were registered in Romania (37.89%), Lithuania (35.94%) and Malta (35.32%) https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/sites/taxation/files/2016-09_vat-gap-report_final.pdf
2014: VAT gap (EUR million) You can find out the full report, including figures on the website of the Commission. Here the VAT gap in absolute values. You can also find https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/sites/taxation/files/2016-09_vat-gap-report_final.pdf
Lowering the VAT gap – role for the businesses Factsheet: link available on dedicated page (http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/tax-cooperation-control/vat-gap_en Apart from VAT Action Plan sets out ways to make the current EU VAT system simpler, more fraud-proof and business-friendly and the definitive regime (single European VAT area) proposed for 2017 Commission opinion about immediate measures to tackle fraud is that businesses should be involved. http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/tax-cooperation-control/vat-gap_en
Cristian Largeanu DG TAXUD – Unit C4