VAT Treatment of Cross-Border Transactions - Goods & Services

Cross Border Transactions and International Trade often give rise to new situations/scenarios wherein a differentiating factor may trigger a change in the VAT treatment adopted in similar past transactions. In this respect it often happens that one is not fully aware as to which is the correct VAT Treatment to be adopted in such situations, keeping in mind also the VAT treatment being adopted by the involved parties in other countries and EU Member States.

The scope of the sessions is to first give an overview of the main types of cross border transactions that may exist (ICS/ICAs/Triangulation, Imports/Exports, EU cross border supplies of services including Electronically Supplied Services, Non-EU Supplies of Services etc.) and their respective VAT treatment. We will also identify the questions which need to be answered, which criteria need to be satisfied, and the procedure which needs to be adopted in each case to arrive at the appropriate VAT Treatment. The session will also discuss the concept of Reverse Charge Mechanism, how it is to be applied, and how such cross-border transactions are to be declared in the local VAT Forms (VAT Returns, Recapitulative Statements, Intrastat Forms, Forms 04 etc.)

Agenda:

Session 1 - Goods

• VAT Treatment – Cross Border Supplies of Goods (ICSs, ICAs, Movement of own Goods, Call-Off Stock, Triangulation, Imports, Exports, Distance Sales, upcoming changes)
• Declaration in Maltese VAT Forms and Compliance obligations
• Practical Examples

Session 2 - Services

• VAT Treatment – Cross Border Supplies of Services (B2B, B2C, EU, Non-EU, E-Commerce, Electronic Services, MOSS, upcoming changes)
• Declaration in Maltese VAT Forms and Compliance obligations
• Practical Examples

The Speaker

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.