It was already back in 2018, that the Federal Fiscal Court decided that the personal characteristics applicable for the VAT-exemption for cultural services (sec. 4 no. 20 lit. a German VAT Act), within the context of service commissions, also needed to be applied to the undisclosed agent’s supply of service. On 9 June 2021, the Federal Ministry of Finance published a letter confirming that, in the future, this decision is to be generally applied. The German VAT Circular will be adjusted accordingly. Unfortunately, however, the Federal Ministry of Finance has refused to transfer the principles of the judgment to personal characteristics of other VAT exemptions. All undisclosed agents should check whether it is possible to settle accounts without VAT for the future and whether VAT refunds can be applied for the past.
Source KMLZ
