01260193 - EU VAT and Customs Law

International trade in goods and services triggers significant tax consequences in the field of indirect taxes. Doing business in or with the European Union must necessarily take them into account. As a result of a successful integration process, there exists now a unified (customs) or harmonised (VAT) body of rules governing indirect taxes within the EU. Taking the course will therefore permit the student to understand the rules applicable in the 27 EU countries at the same time. In doing so, special attention will be given to the 2013 Regulation laying down the Union Customs Code and the 2006 Value Added Tax (VAT) Directive.

This course is aimed at providing the students with a working knowledge of the fundamental concepts of EU Customs and VAT rules. Its objective, as an introductory course, is not to train tax specialists but to make students, interested in business law, receptive to cross-border tax issues in the field of indirect taxation. The course does not require any prior background in domestic (national, federal or state) taxation.

3 credits or 1.5 US credits