Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform

Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Discussion with Minister for Finance

10:10 am

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It comes from the Commission but I do not want misinformation going out. It is about the format of filing VAT and has nothing to do with VAT rates. There are some complicated VAT return systems in other countries. The objective of the Commission is to simplify and standardise the VAT returns process across the Community. In that context, we have a very simplified VAT return form and my interest is that anything that is standardised does not make our VAT filing system more complex. We have a very good system.

Ireland is strongly supportive of the simplified VAT return form proposals, which can lead to a reduction in red tape and administrative costs for business. The prospect of a standard VAT form across the Union holds benefits for business and the Single Market in general. In this regard, Ireland broadly welcomes the proposal. However, since Ireland already has a very simple VAT return form, we will seek to ensure the appropriate balance is achieved between any additional burden on business and the benefits that a standard VAT return form can deliver. In developing our position on the dossier, a stakeholder group is being convened representing business interests and tax practitioners with a view to ensuring any concerns and issues arising are identified by Irish businesses and communicated to us to be fully understood.

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