More information on 2017 Italian VAT reporting changes
Given the importance of the Italian VAT developments announced in our October newsletter, we are providing below a summary of these changes.
Additional filings and new due dates
Quarterly VAT returns including VAT ledgers are required as from 1 January 2017. The first quarterly VAT return due covers the period of January to March 2017. The due date to submit this return is the end of the second month following the reporting period. There is a holiday extension foreseen for the second quarter VAT return, which will be due by 16 September of the following year. Where applicable, monthly VAT calculations and prepayments will still be due.
Exceptionally, the first and second quarter VAT returns of 2017 are due by 25 July 2017.
The due date for Annual VAT returns is 30 April of the following year. The 2016 Annual VAT return will still be submitted by the former due date: 28 February 2017.
Spesometro, black-list and Intrastat changes
The Italian Spesometro return and Blacklist return will no longer be required. The last Spesometro return to be submitted cover the 2016 period, due by 20 April 2017. Regarding the black-list return, however, it has been cancelled also for the 2016 year. More information can be found on the website of Italian Revenue Agency.
Regarding Intrastat, it is no longer required to report intra-Community acquisitions of goods or services in the Italian Intrastat return. The form Intra2 will be abolished. Italy combines ESL and Intrastat returns. Therefore, it is not yet clear how will the Italian authorities gather statistical and commodity code information about incoming goods from other EU countries.
VAT Refunds and statute of limitations
The threshold to request VAT refunds without a bank guarantee is increased from €15,000 to €30,000.
The statute of limitations is extended to 31 December of the fourth year following the year in which VAT became due. Same limitation applies to input VAT, where the time limit starts from the moment VAT became deductible.