On 15 September 2026, the Conference of Finance Ministers (Finanzministerkonferenz) adopted a landmark decision to introduce an offsetting model (Verrechnungsmodell) for import VAT (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer) based on recommendations from a federal-state working group. For years, the DStV has advocated this mechanism to alleviate severe liquidity burdens on importing businesses, which currently must pay import VAT at customs clearance — often weeks before reclaiming it via VAT returns. The approved model allows authorized economic operators (AEO-certified or similarly trusted importers) to offset import VAT directly against output VAT in their monthly or quarterly advance returns (USt-Voranmeldung), eliminating the cash flow gap and reducing customs administrative procedures.
Key Takeaways
- Immediate Liquidity Relief: Eligible importers can net import VAT against domestic output VAT in the same reporting period, removing the need for pre-financing and separate refund applications, a significant working capital improvement for trade-intensive sectors.
- Trusted Trader Criteria: Access requires AEO customs simplification authorization or equivalent reliability certification, ensuring the measure targets compliant operators while maintaining customs control integrity.
- Implementation Roadmap: The Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) is tasked with drafting the implementing ordinance by Q1 2027, targeting operational start on 1 January 2028, with transitional provisions for existing deferment arrangements (Stundung).
Disclaimer: This article is compiled and summarized by the AI based on publicly available information and is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute any form of formal tax advice, legal opinion, or basis for performance. Please consult a qualified professional tax advisor or legal counsel for tax advice.
Source: Read Official Announcement