VIES data -using in ITGS production Olli-Pekka Penttilä Director of Statistics / Co-ordinator Finnish Customs Nordic meeting 2014

Nordic meeting What is VIES? VAT vs VIES VAT Intra-EU export and import VAT-number Month (or Q/Y) VIES (VAT information exchange system) Intra-EU export and import VAT-number Month (or Q/Y) Partner country Partner ID number Normal trade in goods and triangular trade flagged separately (also trade in services)

Nordic meeting When the data is available? Negotiations started with the Tax Board in order to accelerate the availability of the Intra-EU VIES -data in year 2009 EU-level monthly VIES data since 2012 Both flows the most detailed level to Finnish Customs since 2012 Data available at t+35 including revisions for last 12 months

Nordic meeting Use of VIES data Preliminary statistics (t+38) Using Swedish ”Rapid statistics method”: using the biggest traders with stable time series as a sample for whole population Data: VIES data without triangular trade Timeline: Both flows available at t+35 -> Finnish Customs uses the method as optional method for the preliminary statistics. Difference about 1-2% of value. Problem: Lack of CN-information on VIES.

Nordic meeting Use of VIES data SIMSTAT –”ID of partner trader” simulation –Data control –Declarant register –Missing value and below threshold trade estimation Below threshold trade estimation –Country distribution