TEI supports creation of EU VAT web portal.

• Position: Tax Executives Institute

On March 6, Tax Executives Institute submitted a letter to the European Commission urging the creation of a web portal that would provide a repository for current VAT rules of the EU Member States. This critical tool would greatly assist businesses in their efforts to comply with VAT obligations in the EU. TEI's letter was prepared under the aegis of TEI's European Indirect Tax Committee, whose chair is Jean-Francois Turgeon of Caterpillar SARL. Contributing substantially to the development of TEI's comments was Karl-Heinz Haydl of General Electric Company. Daniel B. De Jong, TEI Tax Counsel, serves as legal staff liaison to the European Indirect Tax Committee and coordinated the preparation of TEI's letter.

The Commission and Member States have made progress in harmonising their VAT systems, yet numerous differences remain across the European Union (EU). Businesses with operations throughout the Single Market face significant challenges in complying with these rules, a task made more difficult by the lack of a single location for researching Member State VAT laws. Tax Executives Institute (TEI or the Institute) commends the Commission for recommending the creation of a web portal that would provide a repository for current VAT rules of the Member States. TEI urges the Commission to work with the Member States and the Member States to commit to this initiative by supporting the Commission in the creation of this critical tool that would greatly assist businesses in their efforts to comply with VAT obligations in the EU. TEI would be pleased to assist the Commission in these efforts.

TEI was founded in 1944 to serve the professional needs of business tax professionals. In 1999, TEI chartered a chapter in Europe, which encompasses a cross-section of European and multinational companies. Today, the organisation has 55 chapters throughout the world. As the preeminent international association of in-house tax professionals, TEI has a significant interest in promoting sound tax policy, as well as in the fair and efficient administration of the tax laws, at all levels of government. Our nearly 7,000 members represent approximately 3,000 of the largest companies in Eu rope, the United States, Canada, and Asia.

TEI members are accountants, lawyers, and other corporate and business employees responsible for the tax affairs of their employers in an executive, administrative, or managerial capacity. The Institute espouses organisational values and...