Input Tax Deduction Allowed When Invoice Received Before VAT Return Submission, Even If Later Period

The European General Court (EuG) ruled that national regulations cannot postpone input VAT deduction to a later tax period solely because the invoice is received after the supply period, as long as the invoice is available before the VAT return is filed.
The right to deduct input VAT arises when the material requirements are met, not just when the invoice is received.
The possession of an invoice is a formal requirement for exercising the right, but not for its creation.
The decision emphasizes the principles of VAT neutrality, effectiveness, and proportionality under EU law.

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.