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For many U.S. businesses, expanding sales into Europe creates new opportunities and new tax responsibilities. Yet Value Added Tax, or VAT, remains one of the most misunderstood areas of indirect tax. Companies often know that they have VAT obligations but are unclear on when an in which country a registration is actually required, how VAT is charged, what determines the place of taxation, or how compliance requirements change based on what is being sold, the nature of the customers and where customers are located.
Florian Hanslik of terraVAT will join Diane Yetter on this webinar to provide a practical introduction to VAT for U.S. businesses selling into Europe, while also serving as a useful refresher for experienced tax and finance professionals. Rather than focusing on comparisons between U.S. sales tax and VAT, this session explains based on a more practical training by using specific scenarios how the VAT system works, the concepts that drive compliance decisions, and the issues businesses should understand before or during their expansion into Europe.
Attendees will learn key VAT principles, common registration and reporting considerations, and the factors that influence tax obligations across EU member and non-member states. The session will also address recent developments and areas that frequently create confusion for businesses entering the European market.
Whether you are new to indirect tax, have recently inherited responsibility for sales tax and VAT matters, or want to refresh your understanding of an area that continues to evolve, this webinar will help you build a stronger foundation and make more informed decisions when selling into Europe.
Who should attend?
This webinar is intended for tax managers, accountants, controllers, finance professionals, eCommerce leaders, sales operations teams, and businesses selling or planning to sell into the EU and other European countries. Suitable for all experience levels.
If your company is selling into Europe—or planning to—VAT can quickly become a source of uncertainty considering the average VAT rate of about 22% on the total turnover generated of the European countries (the maximum is 27% in Hungary). Does every sale create a VAT obligation? Can a U.S. company be required to register in a country where it has no physical presence? What happens when you sell digital services instead of tangible goods? And how do ongoing compliance requirements fit into day-to-day business operations?
This webinar addresses the questions that commonly arise as U.S. businesses enter European markets. Through practical examples, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the decisions that can affect VAT treatment, registration requirements, and compliance responsibilities. The session will also highlight areas where businesses often make incorrect assumptions and discuss how changes in business activities, sales channels, or customer profiles can alter VAT obligations over time.
Whether you are evaluating a planned expansion, reviewing an existing VAT footprint, or stepping into a role that includes indirect tax responsibilities, this session will provide context for the questions you should be asking and the issues you should be monitoring. You’ll leave with a stronger understanding of how VAT fits into the broader business process and where to focus your attention as your company’s EU activities grow.
Webinar attendees can earn 1.8 hours of CPE credit in the “Taxes” field of study
Prerequisites: This course requires no prerequisites or advance preparation.
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet-Based
Additional Information about CPE
Questions about the registration or webinar process, or need help troubleshooting? Visit the Live Webinar FAQ page to get answers.
Florian Hanslik, Dr. in law, LL.M., DAS in VAT, is Founding Partner of terraVAT GmbH, which specializes in national and international VAT and customs law.
More About Florian Hanslik
Diane L. Yetter, President & Founder, YETTER and Sales Tax Institute
Diane L. Yetter is the “Sales Tax Nerd TM” as well as a strategist, advisor, speaker and author in the field of sales and use tax. She is president and founder of YETTER Tax, a sales tax consulting and tax technology firm in business since 1996. She is also the founder of The Sales Tax Institute, which offers live and online courses to educate business professionals about sales and use tax.
More About Diane L. Yetter
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