Skip links

VAT changes on virtual events January 2025

Place of supply rules change for online live conferences, training, concerts

The EU is to update the Value Added Tax rules for determining in which country VAT is due – ‘place of supply’ – on entrance fees for virtual events. Member states are required to transpose the new obligations by 1 January 2025. This was concluded by the Council of the European Union on 6th April 2022.

The main change relates to the place of supply for digital live events for B2C where non-tax paying attendees are in a different EU state. The place of supply will switch from the country of the host to the country where the attendee is domiciled.

The changes will move the place of supply for B2B to the country of the even, and confirm B2C similarly.

Attendance Current 2025
Physical (person attends live event) Country where event takes place Country where event takes place
Virtual (attendance online at live event) B2B: country where customer is resident

 

B2C: country where event host resident

B2B: country where customer is resident

 

B2C: country where attendee domiciled

To manage these new rules, event organisers will have to be weary on a number of issues:

  • Is this a live event, and not an electronic service (e.g. not pre-recorded without human intervention on the day)
  • How to track attendees for hybrid events with both physical and virtual attendees
  • Where there are virtual non-taxpayers, should the organiser VAT register in the country of the attendee or use the OSS single VAT registration.

EU VAT reforms

Reform (click for details) Update
Contact VATCalc to learn how our single VAT determination, reporting and e-invoicing platform can help you manage and thrive with global compliance change
2028 Digital Reporting Requirements and e-invoicing harmonisation Published Dec 2022
Structured e-invoices supercede paper invoices Published Dec 2022
EC Sales lists replaced by Digital Reporting Requirements Published Dec 2022
EU Customs reforms Published May 2023
€150 import consignment threshold removed Published May 2023
2026 DAC8 harmonised crypto asset reporting Approved May 2023
2025 Single VAT Registration in the EU - extension of OSS Published Dec 2022
Marketplace deemed supplier extended to EU sellers Published Dec 2022
Proposal for VAT treatment of the platform economy Published Dec 2022
EU IOSS mandated for marketplaces Published Dec 2022
Call-off stock VAT simplification ends Published Dec 2022
Harmonisation of B2B Reverse Charge rules Published Dec 2022
VAT registration thresholds equivalence foreign businesses On track
Virtual events VAT rule changes Agreed
2024 Payment providers' seller transaction reporting and bookkeeping obligations On track
EU permissions on e-invoicing removed Published Dec 2022
2023 DAC 7 - marketplace reporting harmonisation On track
Financial Services VAT exemption reform proposals Consultation complete; proposal 2023
Tour operator margin scheme VAT reforms EC undertaking fresh review
2022 IOSS reforms to prevent double taxation Proposals early 2022
EU reduced VAT rate freedoms Enter into force 6 April 2022
VAT in the Digital Age proposals Published Dec 2022
EU DAC8 cryptocurrency tax reporting proposals Published Dec 2022
VAT Gap Initiative Q3 2022
EU Definitive VAT System On hold
2021 One-Stop-Shop (OSS) single EU VAT return In effect since 1 July 2021
Ending €22 import VAT exemption; new IOSS return In effect since 1 July 2021
Marketplace deemed supplier EU VAT reforms In effect since 1 July 2021
2020 EU four Quick Fixes for VAT In effect
Tax authorities anti-VAT fraud cooperation In effect
Tax Action Plan - 25 VAT and other tax reforms roadmap See 'VAT in the Digital Age' and others
2019 Simplification of e-services VAT compliance and thresholds In effect
Single and multi-use vouchers In effect
2018 Lower e-book and publications VAT rates In effect, although not all EU states have adopted the option

Newsletter

Get our latest news right in your mailbox