Tuesday 18 April 2023
09:00 | Value Added Tax Malta 2023 – An Introduction
Louise Grima
09.15 | A look at 2022 VAT Developments
Saviour Bezzina
The session will discuss recent changes to the VAT and related legislation together with important VAT related judgements delivered recently by the Court of Justice of the European Union, including background information and explanation of other provisions which are connected to the said changes/judgements for a better understanding of the implications emerging from such changes/ judgements.
10.15 | CESOP: VAT Reporting and Recording Requirements for Payment Service Providers
Louise Grima
The session will provide a background of the new reporting and recording obligations that will apply to Payment Services Providers with effect from 1st January 2024, providing a high level overview of the theoretical aspects and the practical considerations associated with this change.
11:15 | Break
11:30 | The 2025 VAT Changes
Kieran Vassallo
In this session, the speaker will be delving into changes to EU VAT legislation which will take effect as from 1st January 2025. The changes target primarily the special scheme for SMEs, reduced VAT rates, and place of supply rules relating to virtual events. Apart from explaining the key legislative changes, the speaker will provide insights as to how these changes could impact businesses in practice.
12.30 | Close of Session
Tuesday 25 April 2023
09:00 | Value Added Tax Malta 2023 – An Introduction
Louise Grima
09:15 | VAT in the digital age proposals: focus on the proposals applicable to the platform economy
Vanessa Micallef
The platform economy has boomed in recent years, with online platforms acting as an intermediary between the suppliers of certain services and consumers. The anticipated proposal for legislative developments addressing VAT in the Digital Age was published on 8 December 2022 addressing, amongst other things, the rules for passenger transport and accommodation platforms. The session will provide an overview of the proposed measures applicable in such cases.
10:00 | VAT in the digital age proposals: focus on digital reporting requirements
William Cassar
On 8th December 2022, the European Commission released a proposal to amend the EU VAT directive in relation to VAT rules in the digital age. The proposal intends to address the challenges in the area of VAT due to the development of the platform economy through three changes required. For the purpose of this session, we will be dealing only with the digital reporting system based on e-invoicing that will provide Member States with valuable information in almost real-time. The intention is to remove cumbersome administrative procedures and have a process which is streamlined across the EU.
10:45 | Break
11:00 | Revisiting the 2021 VAT Changes: our experience post-implementation
Kenneth Cremona
The 2021 VAT e-commerce package were implemented to address the challenges of VAT compliance for businesses operating in the e-commerce sector. The package includes measures such as:
- a new VAT registration threshold for online marketplaces,
- changes to the rules for determining the place of supply for cross-border e-commerce transactions;
- and the introduction of a new “one-stop shop” system for reporting and paying VAT on cross-border e-commerce sales.
The goal of these changes is to make it easier for businesses to comply with VAT rules and to level the playing field for businesses operating in the e-commerce sector.
During this session we will be sharing our experience post-implementation, including any challenges or issues that have arisen since the implementation of the e-commerce package.
12:00 | European Court of Human Rights Cases
Dr Robert Attard
The seminar will discuss ECtHR ‘VAT’ judgments delivered in the past six months.
Saviour Bezzina is the manager responsible for indirect tax matters at the EY Malta office and forms part of EY’s Global Indirect Tax Network as a local knowledge contact. He joined EY in July 2006 after obtaining the Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons.) from the University of Malta. He is a member of the Malta Institute of Accountants, holds a Diploma in VAT compliance and lectures regularly on VAT and indirect tax matters. Saviour was awarded the 2007 MIA prize as the best student who graduated in the Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons) Degree Course Group 2004/2006.
Louise Grima is a Manager at KPMG Malta. She joined KPMG in 2015 after graduating with a Master in Accountancy from the University of Malta and has since worked in direct and indirect tax compliance and advisory projects servicing clients in a number of industries including financial services, insurance, gambling and international trade. Louise was awarded the 2015 MIA Best Student of the Year prize for Master in Accountancy Group 2013/2015, holds a Diploma in VAT compliance. Louise has also successfully completed the Advanced Diploma in International Taxation with an overall distinction. Louise is a member of the Malta Institute of Accountants (MIA), is an ACCA lecturer at KPMG Academy, and regularly delivers courses and seminars relating to VAT. Louise is a member of the MIA Indirect Tax committee.
Kieran Vassallo is an advisor within the tax function at KPMG Malta, specialising particularly in the area of VAT and other indirect taxes. Kieran joined KPMG in 2020 following graduation at the University of Malta with distinction having completed the Master in Accountancy course. Since joining KPMG, Kieran has been involved in the provision of tax advisory and compliance services to clients operating in various industries. Kieran holds a Diploma in VAT Compliance (Malta) issued by the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) and is currently reading for the Advanced Diploma in International Taxation (ADIT). In December 2021, Kieran was awarded the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers prize for obtaining the highest mark in the EU VAT Module of ADIT.
Vanessa Micallef joined the Deloitte Malta’s tax team in 2006 after graduating with Honours in Bachelor of Accountancy from University of Malta. In 2008, she obtained a Diploma in Taxation from the Malta Institute of Taxation.
William Cassar has been with Fenlex since 2016, and currently he holds the positions of Operations Manager and Senior Manager of the Tax Compliance Department. In his current role, he oversees matters related to income tax, VAT, and payroll. Prior to joining Fenlex, William gained valuable experience in the tax service line of one of the Big Four Firms for three years. During this time, he worked with a diverse range of clients across various sectors, including both small and large-scale enterprises. William completed his Masters in Accountancy Degree from the University of Malta in 2014, and later earned the Professional Certificate in Taxation from the Malta Institute of Taxation in 2016. Presently, William is pursuing the Advanced Diploma in International Taxation (ADIT) from the Chartered Institute of Taxation. Apart from his professional pursuits, William is an avid sports enthusiast and particularly enjoys football and athletics.
Kenneth Cremona graduated with a Master in Accountancy from the University of Malta in 2015. Kenneth joined RSM Malta in 2016, initially working on Income Tax Compliance dealing with clients established in multiple industries including Gaming, Immovable Property, Investments, Pharmaceuticals and Retail. During 2019, he specialised in VAT advisory and was promoted to a Supervisory role within the firm, and as an Assistant Manager in 2021. Kenneth is also a CPA warrant holder and received the Professional Certificate in Taxation issued by the Malta Institute of Taxation in 2017.
Dr Robert Attard is Partner and Tax Policy Leader, EY, Central & South East Europe, a tenured senior lecturer at the University of Malta, a fellow of GREIT and member of the European Association of Tax Law Professors. In the IBFD’s 2015-2017 General Report on the Protection of Taxpayers’ Rights he was described as a well-known authority broadly experienced in the practical protection of taxpayers’ rights and a prominent member of the legal practice. Having served as a panellist at the 2015 IFA Congress he forms part of a study group of the International Law Association on the “Protection of Taxpayers’ Rights” (co-chaired by Advocate General Juliane Kokott and Pasquale Pistone) and is also a member of the Supervisory Council of the IBFD/IFA’s “Observatory on the Protection of Taxpayers’ Rights”. He has served as Visiting Professor at the University of Ferrara paying lecturing/speaking visits at Queen Mary (University of London), CTL (University of Cambridge), Salerno (with Wirtshaftsuniversitat Wien and Naples II) and the University of Palermo. The Maltese Court of Appeal has described him as a leading commentator on tax law referring to his publications in its judgements. Robert developed a detailed knowledge of tax aspects of the European Convention on Human Rights drafting submissions in cases filed against France, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Malta. Robert is a published author on tax law publishing articles in European Taxation, EC Tax Review and the British Tax Review. He has contributed to several publications including a book published by Hart Publishing, 3 books published by the IBFD and several books published by the MIM. Robert’s most recent tax publication is Principles of Maltese Income Tax Law 2013. Robert’s books have anticipated important changes to our tax policy system. Philip Sciberras (ex-Court of Appeal) describes Principles of Maltese Income Tax Law as ‘a must-read’ describing Robert as ‘an expert in his field, … without doubt one of Malta’s finest scholars on tax law’. Giovanni Bonello (ex-ECtHR) says that the book is ‘not just an arid explanation of the intricate and sometimes opaque provisions of taxation law, but an attempt – and a very successful one – to place fiscal law in the context of superior principles of governance … Attard’s systematic vademecum has the makings of a textbook destined to become a classic, crucial for tax consultants, practitioners and, not least, for the victims of aggressive fiscal policies’. Philip Baker remarks that ‘Single-handedly, Robert is generating the literature which explains the structure and nuances of the system in Malta. One wishes other countries had similar authors who could write similarly enticing books to explain their tax codes.” Robert has argued most of Malta’s leading tax cases including landmark judgments John Geranzi v. PM (right to justice within a reasonable time), Zahra v. PM (non bis in idem), Farrugia v. PM (taxation as a violation of the right to property) and Case 160 of 2012 (tax transparency).
