Industry calls for clearer VAT guidance on charitable donations for social and sustainability goals

In a letter co-signed with American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU), Accountancy Europe and CFE Tax Advisers Europe, Ecommerce Europe has asked the European Commission to support the proliferation of VAT relief on donations for charitable donations for social and sustainability goals.

While donations can create significant social benefits, like clothes, furniture or other equipment that could make a different for a family or schools, they can also bolster key EU sustainability goals like the Waste Framework Directive and sustainability reporting.

With this joint initiative, we call upon the European Commission to provide further guidance to Member States on applying the VAT Directive exemption on charitable donations, to alleviate concerns about VAT avoidance and to facilitate corporate donations across the EU.