Further to its announcement on 31 July 2020, the European
Commission has published the text to implement the changes to EU VAT rules for
the Northern Ireland Protocol after the end of the Brexit transition period.
The Commission’s proposed
new Directive will amend the principal VAT Directive (2006/112/EC) so that,
from 1 January 2021, taxable persons carrying out supplies of goods in Northern
Ireland are identifiable for EU VAT purposes. The amendment itself adds the
following nine words as a third paragraph to Article 215 of the principal VAT Directive,
which deals with VAT identification number prefix codes:
‘The prefix “XI” shall be used for Northern Ireland’.
Once the amendment is approved, individual member states will
be required to implement the change into national laws by 31 December 2020. The
Commission is also inviting feedback until 6 October 2020.
Further to its announcement on 31 July 2020, the European
Commission has published the text to implement the changes to EU VAT rules for
the Northern Ireland Protocol after the end of the Brexit transition period.
The Commission’s proposed
new Directive will amend the principal VAT Directive (2006/112/EC) so that,
from 1 January 2021, taxable persons carrying out supplies of goods in Northern
Ireland are identifiable for EU VAT purposes. The amendment itself adds the
following nine words as a third paragraph to Article 215 of the principal VAT Directive,
which deals with VAT identification number prefix codes:
‘The prefix “XI” shall be used for Northern Ireland’.
Once the amendment is approved, individual member states will
be required to implement the change into national laws by 31 December 2020. The
Commission is also inviting feedback until 6 October 2020.
