The ongoing covid-19 pandemic is affecting many companies financially in various parts of the business world, which may mean that these companies are unable to pay their suppliers. Companies in almost all industries may in the current situation have such payment problems.
The Swedish Tax Agency therefore considers that during the current pandemic it may be considered probable, and thus can be presumed, that the buyer does not have the opportunity to pay his debt if all the following conditions are met.
- The buyer is a taxable person.
- The invoice has been issued during the period 1 February 2020 – 31 December 2021.
- It has been at least 3 months since the claim fell due for payment.
- A written payment reminder has been sent out.
- The seller and the buyer are not in a common interest.
In such circumstances, the seller may reduce the tax base due to a customer loss even if he has not in any other way shown that the buyer in question lacks the ability to pay. If the seller later receives full or partial payment from the buyer, the seller is obliged to report the tax on the part of the payment that has been received.
This position replaces the position “VAT in the event of customer losses due to the covid-19 pandemic” from 27 May 2020, no. 8-295692 . The position means a change in that the time period for when an invoice must be issued at the latest has been extended until 31 December 2021.
Source: skatteverket.se
