The VAT briefing for January 2016

In Fiscale Eenheid X, the CJEU held that an investment fund that invests in real property may qualify as a ‘special investment fund’ for VAT purposes but that property management does not fall within the exemption for management of the fund. In Associated Newspapers, the UT considered the VAT treatment of free retail vouchers provided to customers as part of a business promotion scheme. In Adecco UK, the FTT held that VAT should be accounted for on the whole amount that clients paid to a recruitment agency (reflecting both the wages of the temporary workers and the commission). In WebMindLicenses, the CJEU provided guidance on the issues to be considered when assessing whether an arrangement is an abuse of law for VAT purposes.