German economists warn that a shift from the current 19% VAT to 21% is possible amid weak growth and tight budgets. A 21% rate would raise gross prices of VAT‑able goods by about 1.68% and create a short‑term inflation bump, especially impacting discretionary sectors such as retail, e‑commerce, and hospitality.
DIW chief Marcel Fratzscher indicates that a shift from the current 19% to a 21% VAT rate is plausible.
If firms fully pass the change on, gross prices of VAT‑able items would rise by about 1.68% due to the multiplier moving from 1.19 to 1.21.
Retailers, e‑commerce, restaurants, autos, and travel services are most exposed, while exporters and staples may be more resilient.
The VAT increase would create a one‑off bump in headline inflation as the higher rate flows into prices.
Get VAT and indirect tax news delivered to your inbox twice a week.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
EPPO · about 16 hours ago
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) launched an EU‑wide investigation into a cross‑border VAT carousel fraud scheme involving luxury cars, estimating tax damage of over €103 million. Nine suspects were detained in Czechia and Germany, with more than 150 searches carried out in nine EU countries and assets seized worth €13.5 million. The offences span the period 2017‑2025.
e-invoice.app · 16 days ago
Germany’s national e‑invoicing mandate requires all businesses to receive structured invoices from January 2025 and to transmit them by revenue thresholds, with full coverage by January 2028. The system accepts XRechnung, ZUGFeRD and Peppol BIS formats, all EN 16931 compliant, and mandates 8‑year electronic archiving under GoBD. Non‑compliance can trigger VAT deduction denial, GoBD violations and administrative fines.
TaxAndBytes · 19 days ago
The post highlights that the German BMF letter dated 15 Oct 2025 requires e‑invoices to be fully and correctly validated for VAT recognition. It points out common validator shortcomings—such as incomplete EN 16931 checks, superficial VAT checks, and lack of audit‑proof documentation—and warns that many validators only verify the existence of data fields, allowing invoices with missing content to be accepted.
NWB · about 1 month ago
This guidance explains that German businesses can apply to extend the deadline for filing VAT returns by one month. If the extension is used, a special advance payment equal to one‑eleventh of the previous year’s advance payments must be paid, and it is credited in the December advance payment calculation. The special payment can be corrected upon application if expected VAT changes due to a rate change.
Bloomberg Tax · about 1 month ago
The German Ministry of Finance clarified rules on input VAT deductions for subsidized service providers that operate at persistent loss. The BMF Letter states that such providers cannot deduct input VAT for services unrelated to taxable activity and must satisfy a two‑step test linking remuneration to performance and confirming economic activity. The letter also amends the VAT Application Decree.
LinkedIn Article by Axalv Truiq Labs · about 2 months ago
The German e-invoicing market is projected to grow from USD 15.2 billion in 2024 to USD 41.86 billion by 2033, driven by EU Directive 2014/55/EU and a 13.5% CAGR. Cloud-based solutions dominate the market, holding over 70% share, while large corporations represent about 60% of the market and SMEs are rapidly expanding. The analysis highlights regulatory mandates, market segmentation, and strategic opportunities for technology providers.
