- The Federal Ministry of Finance expanded and clarified the VAT exemption rules for supplies preceding an importation into Germany, as outlined in a new letter dated 9 April 2026.
- The updated guidelines (UStAE) now provide detailed explanations, examples, and definitions regarding the application of the VAT exemption, including references to Union customs law and special customs procedures.
- The new rules categorize the guidance into principles, explanations of special customs procedures, limitations and scope, and proof requirements.
- Notably, supplies to end consumers are now generally excluded from the VAT exemption unless the customer clears the goods for free circulation themselves.
Source: kmlz.de
Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.
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