Given the ever-growing importance and relevance of E-commerce in today’s business world the EU felt the need to simplify the VAT rules regulating such a sector/mode of transacting with a view to both make it simpler for the various parties transacting to comply properly with the respective VAT obligations, and the same time shifting the VAT charge ability to the country of destination/consumption whilst ensuring that all VAT due is collected in a timely and appropriate manner in its entirety. In the VAT sphere this being termed as the e-commerce package and it will bring about major changes in the VAT treatment of various transactions dealing with E-commerce. Hence it is of paramount importance for all those operating in this sector in one way or another, to be aware of what changes will be coming into effect, what impact these will have on the VAT treatment of the impacted transactions and what needs to be done to ensue proper VAT compliance and applicability. All of these will be covered throughout this session.BACKGROUND INFORMATIONThe EU aims at simplifying VAT obligations for companies carrying out cross-border sales of goods or services (mainly online) to final consumers and to ensure that VAT on such supplies is paid correctly to the Member State of the customer, in line with the principle of taxation in the Member State of destination. The Commission proposed EU legislation in this area in two stages. The first measures entered into force in 2015 and covered telecommunications, broadcasting and electronic services. The second package of measures was adopted by the Council in December 2017 and included new rules for distance sales of goods as well as for any type of service supplied to final customers in the EU. The latter measures, also referred to as ‘the VAT e-commerce package’ are set to apply from 1 January 2021. Throughout the session will shall be looking at all these VAT changes in details and determine which VAT treatments will change and how.OBJECTIVES OF THIS SESSIONThe scope of the session will initially be to discuss the rationale for such changes (including making reference to the various directives, regulations and other legal documents from which such changes emerge). As part of the introduction of the session we shall also briefly revisit the 4 changes which came into effect in 2019 and then move on to focus in detail on the 2021 changes as listed above.Reference will be made to which type of transactions will be impacted and how with the use of practical examples which will explain both the technical aspect of the changes (the basis on which the VAT treatment will change due to the amendments/additions to the wording of the various provisions in the legislation) and well as the practical changes (the manner in which such transactions will have to start being declared by the various involved parties, including new obligations which various parties will be exposed too, as well as opportunities which may lead to less onerous compliance obligations for others).Questions from attendees will be encouraged to make the session more relevant for participants.