Foreign Investors Appreciate Germany
Germany has proven itself internationally as an investment location, even in the crisis year 2009. Compared to the previous year, investment project inquiries increased slightly. Read more
Exports to China up 14.5 Percent
In the third quarter of 2009, German imports were 18.9 percent lower than those of the same quarter of last year, amounting to Euro 167.9 billion. When price-adjusted, imports decreased 10.9 percent. Read more
Global Economic Trends in Q3
Although the world economic situation looks gloomy, there is some hope of improvement, according to the current Global Economic Outlook by Deloitte. Read more
72 Percent of All Imports from Europe
In 2008 German companies imported goods to the value of 818.6 billion euros, 72.0 percent of which came from Europe (589.3 billion euros). Read more
All VAT Rates at a Glance
The European Commission has published a survey of the VAT rates applicable in EU Member States from 1 January 2009.
The tax rates are laid down in the VAT Directive 2006/112/EC, providing in its Articles 93 to 130 and Annex III and IV the legal framework for the application of VAT tax rates in the Member States. Member States have made and continue to make wide use of the possibilities offered within this framework; as a result, the situation is in practice disparate and complex, despite clearly defined basic rules:
- Supplies of goods and services are normally subject to a standard rate of at least 15% .
- Member States may apply one or two reduced rates of not less than 5% to goods and services enumerated in a restricted list.
- They may also, under certain conditions, apply a reduced rate to specific labour intensive services.
These simple rules are however complicated by a multitude of derogations granted to certain Member States, in some instances, to a majority of Member States.
Applicable VAT rates in the EU Member States are listed on 28 pages of the following pdf file: VAT rates applicable
A reduced VAT rate can be applied to certain specified labour-intensive services, but only for an experimental period so as to test its impact. More information is given on the EUsite: VAT on Labour Intensive Services
Comparison of European Labour Costs by IMK
Germany’s labour costs still share a middle ranking at position eight among European States. Read more
