Cross-border SME VAT exemption: plan your quarterly report

Our April Facebook post addressed businesses established in Austria that also use the SME VAT exemption in other EU member states. Receiving the scheme’s EX identification is followed by ongoing reporting responsibilities.

The quarterly report is due by the end of the following month. EU guidance says it covers turnover in every member state, including a zero entry where there was no activity. Austria provides a dedicated portal accessible through FinanzOnline for the procedure.

If your business uses this scheme, agree who prepares the report and who submits it. Gather turnover figures by country after each quarter and have unclear transactions reviewed before filing. A documented timetable and clear responsibilities can make routine administration easier and give you time to resolve questions about the information being reported.

Sources and background: original Facebook post; Unternehmensserviceportal: Kleinunternehmerbefreiung in anderen EU-Mitgliedstaaten; European Commission: Cross-border SME scheme.