EU Action Plan on Tax and Other VAT Initiatives

Moderator:  Karl-Heinz Haydl, Business at OECD VAT/GST Chair, Member of the VAT Expert Group of the EU Commission

Speakers:

• Ludwig de Winter, Deputy Head of Unit—DG TAXUD—VAT Unit of the European Commission
• Lorry Limbourg, Coca-Cola
• Srdjan Timotic, Lam Research
• Gunjan Tripathi, Thomson Reuters

This session will focus on the EU Commission’s Action Plan on Tax and relevant VAT initiatives. Presenters will overview the key VAT initiatives and their timelines; present their views on whether and how technology will help further improve the EU VAT system or lead to more fragmentation and new barriers between Member States; and discuss further harmonization of the VAT rules across the EU. Participants will leave the session with an understanding of the VAT priorities of the new EU Commission, including the planned short, medium, and long term deliverables; why there is a need for further harmonization of the VAT rules across the EU and whether such harmonization can be achieved; and the critical and increasing role technology plays in the EU VAT system.