Legal provisions of COM(1995)731 - Amendment of Directive 77/388/EEC on the common system of VAT (level of the standard rate)

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dossier COM(1995)731 - Amendment of Directive 77/388/EEC on the common system of VAT (level of the standard rate).
document COM(1995)731 EN
date December 20, 1996


Contents

Article 1

Directive 77/388/EEC is hereby amended as follows:

Article 12 (3) (a) shall be replaced by the following:

'(a) The standard rate of value added tax shall be fixed by each Member State as a percentage of the taxable amount and shall be the same for the supply of goods and for the supply of services. From 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1998, this percentage may not be less than 15.

On a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee, the Council shall decide unanimously on the level of the standard rate to be applied after 31 December 1998.

Member States may also apply either one or two reduced rates. These rates shall be fixed as a percentage of the taxable amount which may not be less than 5 % and shall apply only to supplies of the categories of goods and services specified in Annex H.`

Article 2

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 1 January 1997 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference at the time of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member States.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the provisions of domestic law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 3

This Directive shall apply from 1 January 1997.

Article 4

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.,