HMRC has published guidance on how to account for digital sales to EU customers when the UK’s MOSS system becomes redundant. Full document here.

After Brexit, businesses will no longer be able to use the Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) to declare sales and pay VAT due in EU Member States.

The final return period for MOSS will be the period ending 31 December 2019.

A business will be able to use MOSS to:

• submit a final return by 20 January 2020
• amend the final return until 14 February 2020
• update registration details until 14 February 2020
• view previous returns

For sales made after Brexit, a business will need to register for either:

• VAT MOSS in any EU member state
• VAT in each EU member state where you sell digital services to consumers.

Registration deadline

A business will need to register by the 10th day of the month following its first sale to an EU customer after Brexit.

A business cannot register before Brexit.

The EC website may be used to:

• check whether a business should register for Union or Non-Union MOSS
• find out who to contact to register for VAT MOSS in an EU member state.

Further details are provided in the HMRC guidance.

The above assumes that the UK will leave the EU, and that there will be no agreements on VAT before Brexit

What are digital services?

Radio and television broadcasting services

These include:

• the supply of audio and audio-visual content
• live streaming

Telecommunications services

This means transmission of signals of any nature by wire, optical, electromagnetic or other system and includes:

• fixed and mobile telephone services
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
• voice mail, call waiting, call forwarding, caller identification, 3-way calling and other call management services
• paging services
• access to the internet

Electronically supplied services

These rules only apply to e-services that you supply electronically and includes things like:

• supplies of images or text, such as photos, screensavers
• supplies of music, films and games
• online magazines
• website supply or web hosting services
• distance maintenance of programmes and equipment
• supplies of software and software updates
• advertising space on a website