European Union VAT Rates and Thresholds 2017

This table summarises the standard rates of VAT currently in force in each member state, as well as other useful information such as their VAT registration, distance selling and Intrastat thresholds.

Standard rates remain stable around the EU, with only two countries making changes in the past year. Greece increased its rate by 1% to 24% on 1 June 2016 while, on 1 January 2017, Romania completed its plan to reduce its standard rate to the pre-financial crisis level of 19%. 

As usual, many countries have adjusted their Intrastat thresholds for the new year, but there is little change to the other data. Sweden and Luxembourg have both raised their VAT registration thresholds for local businesses, and Estonia intends to do the same in 2018. However, any benefits of this trend will not extend to inward investors because member states are so far retaining their nil registration limits for non-resident businesses.

The big news of the last 12 months is of course the UK’s decision to leave the EU which, once realised, will remove it from the Intrastat and distance selling regimes. Brexit is not expected to take effect until March 2019 at the earliest, so the UK’s VAT system will continue to operate under EU rules for the time being.

Download the report below.