Dear Supporter
Thank you for your patience and restraint this week. After the disappointment of Vince Cable’s response, we had discussions with a senior member of Vince Cable’s team throughout the past few days and were told that the Department was sympathetic towards our cause and that progress was being made on our behalf.
We were promised that HMRC would be putting out a further statement, which would clarify things and update us on some real concessions which would make life much easier for us. For those of you who haven’t seen it that statement was released today and can be found here: http://bit.ly/1yA7Uyl .
Unfortunately, as many of you are rightly commenting this does not solve the issue for us at all. In fact, it would appear that despite such a positive meeting with HMRC, HM Treasury and David Gauke MP last Thursday and our best efforts since then, there is still a significant gap in understanding of our situation on the part of HMRC and no meaningful progress has been made.
We, like you, feel hugely disappointed that last week’s HMRC meeting promises were presented to us again today, apparently as ‘new news’. And they have still singularly failed to grasp that, far from not wanting to comply with the legislation, we simply CANNOT, due to the requirements for the proof place of supply.
We are hearing, daily, of businesses that will close their doors at the end of this month. We understand how you feel. We are not giving up though!
We need to ramp up the campaign to a new level and we need your help to do so. Please come and sign the new EU-wide petition we have started http://chn.ge/1wyXUtU and then please explore our new EU VAT Action website (you’re here now) to see how else you can help!
There are only 7 working days until Christmas, and we understand that the EU Commission closes for Christmas on 18 Dec – so please do continue to help us fight at this crucial time as every second counts!
Issy
On behalf of the EU VAT ACTION TEAM
I’m Rosie, one of the EU VAT Action Team founding members (way back in November).
This is a business-wide, global issue. It affects all but the very biggest businesses. The clarifications need to happen at EU level and the current issues that are a disaster for international revenue need to be addressed – at EU level.
(Collection of data, correct rate, invoicing requirements, liability, data protection, risk of international fraud because of the collection requirements……..).
I know this can be resolved and I also know it will not be resolved easily unless those in power in the EU realise affected businesses number in the millions and it will affect revenue in the billions.
We CAN do this.
One of our members was present at the HM Treasury / HMRC debrief meeting this morning. It is hugely disappointing that the updates we were given at the excellent meeting with HMRC, HM Treasury and David Gauke on 4th December were simply repeated today – and presented as being exciting new news. It is as though nothing other than word-smithing has happened in the past week.
This situation is no longer urgent. It is now an emergency.
We have launched an EU-wide petition and have plenty of other suggestions for how you can make your voice heard – and make a difference: https://euvataction.org/take-action-now/
NO ONE will need to close the doors of their business on 1st January if enough of us take massive, inspired action.
Thank you for every action you take. Clare x
Please sign the petition! We need to stand united against these archaic laws, dreamed up by people who have limited to no knowledge of running an online digital business.
The internet is a global community and these EU Member States are treating their countries like tiny fiefdoms where they are trying to claw back every cent they can. This type of VAT is regressive, archaic and incompatible with the global digital economy.
We are working hard to try and fight this for you, but we need your help to make enough noise to get noticed.
Lorraine from the EU VAT Action Team
Thanks so much for all your work Rosie, Clare and Lorraine – you must be running on rivers of adrenaline at the moment…I’ve signed, surveyed and pestered! I’m sending all three of you big, non EU vatable, hugs.