2019 has already brought many changes in the indirect tax world.
Here at Taxback International, we understand that keeping up with changing regulations in global VAT and indirect taxation is time consuming. So, we’ve created a VAT update for you covering the first half of 2019.
Bahrain
Bahrain introduced a VAT rate of 5% from 1st January 2019.
China
As of 1st April 2019, a reduction in the standard VAT rate from 16% to 13% was introduced. The reduced VAT rate on retail was also reduced, from 10% to 9%.
Croatia
Croatia has cut the VAT rate on e-Books to 5%.
Greece
In May 2019, the Greek Prime Minister announced a proposal to reduce the VAT on a number of services:
- Food & Drink – From 24% to 13%
- Hotel accommodation – From 13% to 11%
- Electricity – From 13% to 6&
These changes are set to be introduced in late 2019 and should be fully implemented in 2021.
Ireland
As of 1 January 2019, the VAT rate on tourism services increased from 9% to 13.5%. On the same day, the VAT rate on e-books decreased from 23% to 9%.
Kuwait
The introduction of a 5% VAT regime from 1 April 2021 was announced.
Lithuania
Cuts to the VAT rate of books and newspapers from 9% to 5% as of 1 January 2019. The Lithuanian parliament are currently considering a proposal to cut standard VAT rate from 21% to 18% to promote and boost economy.
Luxembourg
Reduced the VAT rate on e-books from 17% to 3%. The measure was back dated to 1 January 2019.
Malta
From 1 January 2019, the VAT rate on e-books set to 5%.
The Netherlands
The reduced VAT rate was increased from 6% to 9%, as of 1 January 2019.
Norway
The VAT rate on e-books and new journals will be scrapped and will be set at zero percent from 1 July 2019.
Russia
As of 1 January 2019, the standard VAT rate increased from 18% to 20%. There was also an increase in the reduced rate from 15.25% to 16.67%.
Slovakia
The VAT rate for hotels/accommodation services was reduced from the standard VAT rate of 20% to the reduced rate 10%. This came into effect on 1st January 2019.
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