5FinlandValue Added Taxation in Europe.docx
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5FinlandValueAddedTaxationinEurope
Finland-ValueAddedTaxationinEurope
LatestInformation
1.Introduction
2.Taxable,Non-TaxableandExemptTaxablePersons
3.TaxableTransactions
4.PlaceofTaxableTransactions
5.ChargeableEvent,TaxDue,TaxPayable
6.TaxableAmount(BasisofAssessment)
7.Rates
8.ExemptionswithintheCountry
9.ExemptImportation/Intra-CommunityAcquisitions
10.ExemptionsofExports/Intra-CommunitySuppliesandLikeTransactions/InternationalTransportation
11.SpecialExemptionsLinkedtoBondedWarehouses,FreeZonesandOtherAreas
12.DeductionsandRefunds
13.SpecialRegimes
14.ImmovableProperty(ImmovableGoods)
15.AdministrativeObligations
16.PowersoftheTaxAuthorities
17.Appeals
AppendixI–Registrationform
AppendixII–PeriodicVATreturn
AppendixIII–Europeansaleslistingdraft
AppendixIV–Intrastatreturns
AppendixV–Formtoreportamendments/closingdownofbusiness
Finland-ValueAddedTaxationinEurope
Author
PäiviTaipalus
LatestInformation
Thischapterisbasedoninformationavailableupto1January2010.
SeeTaxNewsServiceforanylaterdevelopments.
Abbreviations,TermsandReferences
FinnishVATlegislationiscontainedin:
VATAct
:
TheVATAct(Arvonlisäverolaki)of30December1993/1501withthelateramendmentsbytheActofChangingtheVATActon29December1994/1486andon29December1995/1767andsomeotherchanges.
VATDecree
:
TheVATDecree(Arvonlisäveroasetus)of21January1994/50.
-
SeveralwrittenguidelinesfromtheNationalBoardofTaxation
1. Introduction
1.1. General
Finlandadoptedaturnovertaxsystemin1941.ThesecondTurnoverTaxActwasadoptedin1942,thethirdin1951,thefourthin1964andthefifthin1991.ThefifthTurnoverTaxAct,whichcameintoeffecton1October1991,introducedsignificantreformintheFinnishVAT.TheoldturnovertaxwassupersededbyanewlawsimilartotheEuropeanvalueaddedtaxsystem.TheGovernmentBillforValueAddedTaxActwaspresentedtotheparliamenton7June1993.Thecontentofthelawwasconfirmedon7December1993bytheparliamentandthelawbecameeffectiveon1June1994.DuetoFinland’smembershipoftheEuropeanUnion,effectiveasfrom1January1995,somechangeshadtobemadeinordertoconformthelegislationtothe(E)ECVATDirectives,forexample,theruleswithregardtointra-Communitytradewereintroducedandprimaryproduction(farming,forestry,fishing,etc.)becametaxable.
TheVATActissupportedbytheVATDecreeandbywrittenguidelinesoftheNationalBoardofTaxation.
AccordingtoArt.1oftheVATAct(30December1993/1501withthelateramendmentsbytheActofChangingtheVATActon29December1994/1486),taxabletransactionsincludethefollowing:
-
suppliesofgoodsandserviceswhichtakeplaceinFinlandasabusinessactivity;
-
importationofgoodsintoFinland;and
-
intra-CommunityacquisitionsinFinland.
WheretheVATActrefersto“Finland”,itmeanscontinentalFinlandandtheterritorialwatersofFinland.
ThepositionoftheautonomousÅlandislandsisexceptional.TheÅlandislandsdecidedtobecomeapartoftheEuropeanUniontogetherwithFinland.However,theÅlandislandsarenotapartoftheEuropeanUnionforVAT(andexcise,etc.)purposes,accordingtotheTreatyofAccession(ProtocolNo.2).Consequently,goodsfromtheotherMemberStateshavetobeclearedthroughcustomsandVATmustbepaidatimportation.WhenthegoodsaresuppliedfromtheÅlandislandstoMemberStates,thisisconsideredtobeazero-ratedexport.FortradebetweencontinentalFinlandandtheÅlandislandsthiswouldhavebeentoocomplicated.ThatiswhyaspeciallawconcerningVATandexcisedutytreatmentbetweencontinentalFinlandandtheÅlandislands(29December1994/1484)wasintroduced.Accordingtothislaw,suppliesofgoodsfromthecontinentofFinlandtotheÅlandislandsandfromtheÅlandislandstothecontinentofFinlandareconsideredtobesupplieswithinFinland.However,effective1March1997,theVATandexciseborderwasestablishedalsobetweentheÅlandislandsandthemainlandofFinlandbychangingLaw1994/1484.Consequently,theÅlandislandsaretreatedasathirdcountryinrespectofVATandexcisedutiesinrelationtothemainlandofFinland.Cross-bordertradeistreatedasimportationandexportationfromaVATandexcisedutypointofview.TransportationtotheÅlandislandsto/fromotherMemberStatesistreatedastransportationto/fromthirdcountriesandthereforezero-rated/exempt.TheformalitiesattheborderaresimplifiedintradebetweentheÅlandislandsandthemainlandcomparedtothosebetweenFinlandandthirdcountries.
1.2. StructureofVATAct
TheFinnishValueAddedTaxActof1993(asamendedbythelaw29.12.1994/1486)comprises23chaptersand237articles.
Thechaptershavethefollowingtitles:
Chapter1
:
Territoriality
Chapter2
:
VATliability
Chapter3
:
SuppliessubjecttoVAT
Chapter3
:
Intra-Communityacquisitions
Chapter4
:
Exemptedsupplies
Chapter5
:
SuppliesandacquisitionsdeemedtotakeplaceinFinland
Chapter6
:
Exemptionsrelatingtointernationaltrade
Chapter7
:
ThebasisofVAT
Chapter8
:
Taxrates
Chapter9
:
Importationofgoods
Chapter10
:
Deductions
Chapter11
:
Repealed
Chapter12
:
RefundsofVATtootherthantaxablepersons
Chapter12a
:
Specialarrangementsforelectronicallysuppliedservices
Chapter13
:
Chargeableevent
Chapter13a
:
Administrativetreatmentwithregardtocertainintra-Communitytransactions
Chapter14
:
Paymentofthetax
Chapter14a
:
Specialreliefschemeforsmallentrepreneurs
Chapter15
:
RefundsofVATforcertainforeignbusinesses
Chapter16
:
VATauthorities
Chapter17
:
Obligationtoreport
Chapter18
:
Registration
Chapter19
:
Assessmentoftax
Chapter20
:
Guidanceandadvancerulings
Chapter21
:
Appeals
Chapter22
:
Specialrules
Chapter23
:
Implementationandtransitionalprovisions
1.3. Administrativeorganization
VATisadministeredbytheNationalBoardofTaxation(verohallitus)andbyeightregionaltaxoffices(verovirasto).Inaddition,thereisthetaxofficeforlargecompanies(Konserniverokeskus).
1.4. Otherindirecttaxes
Setforthbelowisalistofotherindirecttaxes:
1.4.1. Exciseduties
Exciseduties(valmistevero)arelevied,inadditiontoVAT,onsuppliesofthefollowingproducts:
mineraloils,alcoholicbeverages,tobaccoproducts,electricity,coal,andnaturalgas.Inaddition,nationalexcisedutiesareleviedonsoftdrinksandbeveragepackages.
Excisedutiesformineraloils,alcoholicbeverages,tobaccoproducts,electricity,coalandnaturalgasaredueforthoseproductswhicharemanufacturedinFinland,deliveredtoFinlandfromotherMemberStatesorimportedfromoutsidetheEuropeanUnion.Thepossessionoftheseproductsinabusinessformmakestheonewhopossessesthemliabletodutyinothercases.
1.4.2. Transfertax
Finlandappliesa1.6%transfertaxonshares.Transactionscarriedoutonthestockexchangeareexemptfromthetransfertax.Thereisatransfertaxonthetransferofimmovablepropertyof4%.
1.4.3. Registrationtax(cartax)
Ataxisleviedonregistrationofpassengercars,vansandmotorcyclesbeforetakingthevehicleintouseorbeforeithasbeenregisteredintouseinFinland.Thepartyliabletotaxistheimporter,themanufacturerofthevehicle,thetransfereeiftheliabilityhasbeentransferred,orthepersonregisteringthevehicle,theuserortheownerofthevehicle.
1.4.4. Motorvehicletax
Ataxisleviedonmotorvehicleswhicharefuelledbypowerorfuelotherthanunmixedgasolineorgasolinebasedonalcohol.TaxespayablebasedontheMotorVehicleTaxActincludeabasictax,anadditionaltaxincertaincasesandataxpayableforacarregisteredabroadandbroughttoFinlandfortemporaryuse.
1.4.5. Insurancepremiumtax
Aninsurancepremiumtaxof22%isleviedoninsurancepremiumswheretheassociatedriskisinFinland,exceptforcertainspecifiedexemptions.
1.5. Sourcematerial
Laws,rulingsandguidelines,etc.,usedassourcesforthischapter,arelistedunderAbbreviations,termsandreferences.
2. Taxable,Non-TaxableandExemptTaxablePersons
2.1. Taxablepersons
2.1.1. General/definition
ThepersonliabletotaxisthepersonwhosuppliesgoodsorservicessubjecttoVATasabusinessactivitywithinFinland,importsgoodsintoFinlandormakesintra-CommunityacquisitionsinFinlandwithcertainexceptions.
Taxablepersonscanbeindividuals,enterprises,non-profitableorganizations,foreignersandpublicbodies.
2.1.1.1. Foreigntaxablepersons
ForeignersareliabletotaxiftheysupplytaxablegoodsortaxableservicesfromafixedestablishmentwithinFinland.ForeignbusinessescanalsobecomeliableforpaymentofthetaxwithouthavingafixedestablishmentinFinland,forexamplewhenmakingsuppliestoprivatepersons.Iftheforeignenterprisedoesnothaveafixedestablishment,theliabilityofthetaxis,inmostcases,shiftedtotherecipientofthesupply.(Forfixedestablishment,see15.2.3.)
WithregardtorefundsofVATtoforeignbusinesses,see12.9.1.,liabilityforpaymentoftax,see15.2.1.andregardingregistrationrequirements,see15.2.3.
2.1.2. Intra-Communityacquisitionofnewmeansoftransport
Anintra-Communityacquisitionofanewmeansoftransport(see3.5.1.foradefinition)isalwaystaxableinFinlandandthepersonmakingtheacquisitionisliabletoVAT.
Ifaprivateperson,whodoesnotcarryonabusinessactivitywhichisliabletoVAT,purchasesanewmeansoftra