This course provides an understanding of the most important VAT principles and issues that someone dealing with value added tax in the European Union may be confronted by.

The course is designed for people with little experience and knowledge of value added tax in the European Union. The course may be of particular benefit to tax practitioners from the new EU Member States.

Topics covered in this course:

• What is VAT and why is it so important?
• Who has to pay VAT?
• What type of transactions are subject to VAT?
• When and where is VAT due?
• When is input tax deductible?
• An introduction to partial exemption
• Eighth and Thirteenth Directives
• Current developments with VAT
• How does VAT apply to immovable property?
• Special schemes
• How does VAT apply to exports?
• Administrative obligations, records and accounts
• How does VAT apply to Intra-Community trade?