EU VAT fraud may be far bigger than assumed, EPPO warns European prosecutors say organised VAT and customs fraud is exposing a much larger criminal economy than traditional VAT Gap estimates suggest. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has warned that fraud could account for
Updates to EU cooperation on combating VAT fraud are watered down The EU’s ECOFIN finance ministers’ meeting on 5 May 2026 endorsed giving its fraud investigators long-demanded access to national VAT data. The measure now moves to the EU Parliament for sign-off probably in July.
Live retail reporting of VAT transactions to cut fraud In an effort to close the VAT Gap of missing tax revenues many European countries have introduced VAT e-registers in traditional retail and online e-commerce. These provide real-time or batch automated reports to the tax authorities of
France’s DGFiP estimate of missing VAT revenues at €6bn to €10bn per annum The Direction générale des Finances publiques tax authorities has published an in-depth study on the loss of Value Added Tax (VAT) receipts resulting from errors or omissions in reporting – including evasion.
First phase of EC estimate of losses due to missing trader intracommunity report The European Commission has published the first phase report on its attempt to quantify the value of missing trader intra-community VAT fraud. This involves criminals initiating declaring zero-rating on sales of goods
EU’s Directorate-General Taxation and Customs (DG TAXUD) has summarised its top reforms and ongoing work around the EU’s VAT regime, customs and related areas in its Management Plan 2023 Key issues DG TAXUD is looking to progress includes: Agreement of the 3-pillars of EU VAT in
