Submission of a VAT return in the e-services environment e-MTA.
Submission of a report on intra-Community supply
in the e-services environment e-MTA.
Together with the main VAT return form KMD, a person liable to VAT must also submit the annex KMD INF on a monthly basis.
In KMD INF part A, a person liable to VAT must declare sales invoices containing supply taxable at the tax rate of 22%, 9% and 5% and in part B, purchase invoices containing supply taxable at the rate of 22%, 9% and 5%, if the total amount of sales or purchase invoices, exclusive of VAT, per transaction partner is at least 1,000 euros.
If the information declared on the KMD INF form is inaccurate, this may lead to problems in tax behaviour ratings and may also be the reason why the company’s VAT return is redirected to control. If tax behaviour ratings show differences compared to the KMD INF submitted by a transaction partner, the transaction partner should first be consulted for clarification.
Filing value added tax return
The following persons must file a value added tax return (form KMD) and its annex (form KMD INF).
- Persons registered as value added tax payers.
- Persons not registered as value added tax payers in the event that they have submitted an invoice or other sales document for a transaction containing a value added tax amount.
- Value added tax groups
- The representative of the value added tax group will submit a value added tax return for the value added tax group and the annex to the value added tax return must be submitted separately for each person belonging to a value added tax group (Value Added Tax Act § 26 (11)). A value added tax group is comprised of multiple companies that are registered under a single value added tax registration number and that submit a joint value added tax return. The submission of separate annexes is necessary because the persons that are part of the value added tax group issue invoices in their own names and on the basis of their commercial register number and data presented in the annexes to the value added tax return are compared according to transaction partner through the use of persons’ commercial register numbers.
- Taxable persons with limited liability must file a value added tax return but do not have to submit an annex to the value added tax return.
A value added tax return and its annex must be submitted to the Estonian Tax and Customs Board by the 20th day of the month following the taxable period (generally calendar month).
Value added tax return and its annex can be submitted either by entering data manually or uploading files in XML or CSV formats.
To submit forms KMD and KMD INF:
- log in to the e-MTA
- select "Taxes" in the menu, then, under "Value added tax" select "Submit and view KMD"
- on the page of List of tax returns click the button "Lisa uus deklaratsioon" (Add a new tax return).
Submitting a tax return
To submit a VAT return click on the button "Add a new tax return". Once the return is submitted, the data will be verified, which usually takes no more than a couple of minutes. After that keep an eye on your VAT return status in the list of tax returns. Your VAT return has been successfully submitted, if its status is "Submitted". If there are errors in your tax return, the status is "Not submitted". Information on errors can be found on the page of List of tax returns under the column "Errors". Correct your errors and submit your tax return again.
Amendments to the tax return
If some data have remained undeclared by an oversight or are incompletely or incorrectly filled in, you can amend your return as follows:
- Upload your amended file again. Then it should be noted that a repeated upload will overwrite any data previously uploaded or manually entered for all parts of the tax return. For example, if you wish to correct only the data in Part A, the file uploaded should comprise only the data of Part A.
- Make corrections online.
Indicating the name and registry code or personal ID code of your transaction partner on form KMD INF
There are 3 options for indicating the name and/or code of a transaction partner:
- Insert only the name of your transaction partner, and the system will check the spelling. The name of transaction partner must match the spelling of the name entered into the commercial register or the register of taxable persons.
- Insert only the code of transaction partner, and the system will automatically add the name.
- Enter both the name and code of your transaction partner. In this case the system will check the spelling of the name. The name of transaction partner must match the spelling of the name entered into the commercial register or the register of taxable persons.
In order to avoid mistakes, it is better to insert only the codes of transaction partners.
Transaction partners’ names and registry codes can be checked:
- in the case of Estonian enterprises from the commercial register
- in the case of non-residents from the registry of non-residents
If a transaction partner indicated on form KMD INF is a self-employed person (FIE) or you have inserted a code of natural person (invoices issued to natural persons are not subject to declaration), the system will not display the persons’ names due to the obligation to protect personal data. In place of names the system displays five asterisks (*****).
Submission of tax returns in XML or CSV file format
Technical specification of files
In order to submit a tax return in XML or CSV file format, go to the VAT return page and click on the button Add data from file.
It should be noted that only one file at a time can be uploaded. After uploading the file is being processed, which, depending on its size, may take some time (e.g. 1000 lines – ca 2 seconds, 10 000 lines ca 3 seconds, 1 000 000 lines ca 1 minute). If the file has been accepted, it will appear in the list of tax returns with a link "Correct" under the relevant column. After that you can continue submitting the tax return. If the link does not appear, reload the page after a few minutes.
Uploading a file does not automatically mean that your tax return has been submitted: after uploading the file you have to click on the button Submit a VAT return.
When submitting/correcting data from file it should be noted that any data previously uploaded or manually entered will be overwritten in all parts. It means that you cannot submit two files for Part A or Part B for one taxation period.
Creating an XML format file
When creating a file in XML format, attention should be paid on the following:
- You have to encode your Excel file into UTF-8 format. If the file is generated in any other format, you may face problems with the letters displaying dots over vowels.
- If a personal ID code of the submitter is not specified in the file, an empty tag <submitterPersonCode/> cannot be used. You have to delete this tag from the file.
- If you are using accrual method of accounting, do not add a tag which is meant for use in the case of cash-accounting for value-added tax (KMD INF Part A tag <invoiceSumForRate> and KMD INF Part B tag <vatSum>)
- If the name of transaction partner contains the symbol &, the system will not accept the file. Since it is an XML specification which does not enable the use of <, > and &, you should replace & by &
Creating a csv format file
When creating a file in XML format, attention should be paid on the following:
- The file must be in UTF-8 encoding. If the file is generated in any other format, you may face problems displaying dots over vowels.
- You need not add a line with the specifier "header". It is obligatory only in the case you submit a tax return through machine-machine interface.
- If you are using accrual method of accounting, do not fill in the columns which are meant for persons using cash-accounting for value-added tax (in KMD INF Part A "Taxable value of goods or services stated on the invoice" and in KMD INF Part B "Value added tax amount stated on the invoice").
Video guide "Preparing CSV files for uploading KMD INF through e-MTA"
The VAT return and its annex can be submitted conveniently by machine-to-machine interface via X-tee. This means that you can safely send the data necessary for submitting the return directly from the company’s accounting software to the Tax and Customs Board. When using the X-tee service, you do not need to sign in to the e-MTA and do not have to fill in the return manually or upload a file.
Simple steps to take the machine-to-machine interface into use
- Check with your business software service provider whether the software allows you to submit VAT returns via X-tee.
- If it is possible to submit VAT returns from the accounting software, the representative of the company must
- activate the machine-to-machine interface in the accounting software.
Your economic software service provider provides information for activating the interface and submitting returns. - grant the owner of the x-tee security server of business software service provider the access permission “Sending value added tax return (form KMD) data by machine-to-machine interface” in e-MTA as follows:
1. enter the Estonian Tax and Customs Board’s e-services environment e-MTA;
2. select the represented person on whose behalf you wish to grant the access permission;
3. select Settings – Access permissions - Access permissions of representatives from the menu;
4. click New access permission;
5. enter the registry code of the owner of the X-tee security server of the business software service provider. If you do not know the registry code, ask from the business software service software provider.
Click Search and then Next;
6. set the start date of the access permission;
7. click on the tab “Separate permissions” in the permissions block and search for the permission by the name “Sending value added tax return (form KMD) data by machine-to-machine interface” or by the code “XT_MM_KMD”. Check the box next to the access permission, and then click Add.
- activate the machine-to-machine interface in the accounting software.
- The accountant who submits VAT return data from accounting software must have the valid access permission “Administering value added tax returns (form KMD)” or “Accountant´s package”.
Questions and answers
1. Can the accountant apply for the access permission to the owner of the X-tee security server of the economic software service provider?
An accountant who has the right to delegate (forward) the accountant’s package or the access permission “Administering value added tax returns (form KMD)” in the e-MTA can apply to the Tax and Customs Board for granting the access permission “Sending value added tax return (form KMD) data by machine-to-machine interface” to the owner of the X-tee security server. The application can be submitted in the e-MTA by selecting Communication — Correspondence — New message from the menu. Then, select the subject “Access permissions/Powers of attorney” or “Submission/Correction of form KMD”. In the application, the name and registry code of the company to which the authorization is granted must be provided.
2. How can I correct a VAT return submitted through the machine-to-machine interface?
Submit a new return from the accounting software. The previous return will be overwritten automatically.
3. How can I see if a VAT return has been submitted?
You will receive a message in the accounting software confirming the submission.
4. Will I receive a bank link for direct payment of VAT when submitting the VAT return via the machine-to-machine interface?
The Tax and Customs Board does not provide a bank link in the reply message, but this option may be created in accounting software. Please check with your business software service provider.
5. Whom do I have to contact if I need to configure accounting software in connection with the VAT return?
Please contact the accounting software helpdesk.
Value added tax returns and its annexes may be submitted on paper if a person has been registered as a value added tax payer for less than 12 months or if fewer than five invoices are included in the annex to the value added tax return.
Submission of report on intra-Community supply
According to § 28 of the Value-Added Tax Act, a taxable person is required to submit a report on intra-Community supply (form VD) if:
- it has effected intra-Community supply of goods during a taxable period, it has transferred goods as a reseller in a triangular transaction during a taxable period or it has transported from Estonia to another Member State call-off stock, including in the case when the acquirer of call-off stock changes or call-off stock has been returned to Estonia;
- it has provided to a taxable person or taxable person with limited liability of another Member State a service specified in clause 10 (4) 9) of the Value-Added Tax Act which is subject to taxation except the taxation with the 0 per cent value added tax rate, in the Member State of the recipient of the service.
On Form VD no services provided to a third country person, intra-Community acquisitions, domestic supply or import/export of goods are declared.
VD report shall be submitted by the twentieth day of the month following each calendar month. If there is no supply of goods or services mentioned above, then no report shall be submitted.
Supply shall be deemed to have been created both in the case of intra-Community supply created or intra-Community acquisition effected on the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which the goods obtained by the intra-Community acquisition of goods are dispatched or made available or on the date on which an invoice is issued if it is prior to the mentioned fifteenth day (subsection 11 (2) of the Value-Added Tax Act).
Upon provision of services to foreign persons or receipt of services from foreign persons the time of supply is deemed to be the date on which the first of one of the following acts has been performed pursuant to the general rule of subsection 11 (1) of the Value-Added Tax Act:
- the services are provided;
- full or partial payment is received for the services or, in the case of the receipt of services, full or partial payment is made.
If a taxable person cancels an invoice concerning goods/services or submits a credit invoice, the corresponding amendments concerning the taxable period during which the (credit) invoice was submitted shall be indicated in the report on intra-Community supply (subsection 28 (3) of the Value-Added Tax Act). Thus, a taxable person shall declare the amendments concerning the same taxable period resulting from the cancellation of an invoice or from the submission of a credit invoice both in the value-added tax return (KMD) and in the report on intra-Community supply (VD).
The information about intra-Community supply of goods is provided for in § 7 of the Value-Added Tax Act. Intra-Community supply of goods means, as a rule, the transfer of goods to a taxable person or taxable person with limited liability of another Member State together with the transport of the goods from Estonia to the other Member State. The transfer of goods, transported from Estonia to another Member State as call-off stock, is also treated as intra-Community supply.
Besides the sale of goods, intra-Community supply of goods means also the transport of goods to another Member State for them to be used for business purposes there. A company, for example, may transport goods to its company or branch registered as a taxable person in Finland for them to be used for business there. Intra-Community transportation of goods from one Member State to another one for business purposes presumes that the transportation shall be considered as an intra-Community acquisition of goods in the other Member State – thus, an Estonian company has generally to register itself as a taxable person in this other Member State.
As the amendment, since 01.01.2020 the transport to another Member State of goods meeting the conditions of call-off stock is not treated as intra-Community supply. The transport to another Member State of call-off stock is not treated as intra-Community supply also in case when the initially agreed acquirer has replaced with another acquirer in the same Member State within 12 months as of the arrival of call-off stock and in case when the goods are not transferred in another Member State within 12 months as of their arrival and are returned to Estonia during the same time.
Intra-Community supply of goods (incl. the transfer of goods, transported from Estonia to another Member State as call-off stock) shall be declared in boxes 3, 3.1 and 3.1.1 of Form KMD and in column 3 of Form VD. Box 3.1.1 "Intra-Community supply of goods" in Form KMD of the corresponding calendar month equals generally to the total amount in column 3 "Taxable value of goods" of Form VD. A difference may occur on selling goods to persons not registered as taxable persons in the special cases given in the Value-Added Tax Act (for example, sale of new means of transport).
The place of supply of services is provided for in § 10 of the Value-Added Tax Act. In the report on Form VD such services shall be declared which upon provision to taxable persons of another Member State shall be subject to taxation according to the so-called basic rule (clause 10 (4) 9) of the Value-Added Tax Act) by the recipient in his or her Member State (clause 28 (1) 2) of the Value-Added Tax Act). Thus, the services that are connected with the so-called ‘seat’ and the place of providing services is not related to the recipient of the service (for example, the services connected with an immovable).
Besides, the services subject to taxation with 0 per cent value added tax rate by the recipient shall not be declared in VD reports, for example, transport services for the export or import of goods (the list of services subject to taxation with 0 per cent value added tax rate is provided for in subsection 15 (4) of the Value-Added Tax Act).
The services to be declared in VD report shall be indicated in boxes 3 and 3.1 of Form KMD and in column 5 of Form VD. The taxable value of services in column 5 of Form VD equals, as a rule, to the difference between boxes 3.1 and 3.1.1 of Form KMD.
The remaining services subject to taxation with 0 per cent value added tax rate pursuant to the Value-Added Tax Act shall be declared in box 3 of Form KMD only where the total supply subject to taxation with the 0 per cent value added tax rate shall be declared. Thus, all the services connected with the so-called ‘seat’ and the services subject to taxation with the 0 per cent value added tax rate under the specific provisions, for example, the services connected with an immovable, transport services for the export of goods, the provision of services for vessels navigating in international waters, and similar services shall be declared in row 3 of Form KMD only.
The goods treated as call-off stock shall not be declared in Form KMD. The goods transported to another Member State as call-off stock shall be declared in Form VD, indicating in the report the code of the country of the acquirer of call-of stock (column 1 in the paper form) and the VAT identification number of the acquirer of call-off stock (column 6 in the paper form).
If the transport of the goods to another Member State as call-off stock was failed to present on time in Form VD, it shall be presented in the report on the amendment of intra-Community supply (Form VDP), indicating in row "corrected" the code of the country of the acquirer of call-of stock (column 2 in the paper form), the VAT identification number of the acquirer of call-off stock (column 7 in the paper form) and code of the act "1" "Transport of the goods to another Member State" (column 8 in the paper form).
The replacement of the acquirer of call-off stock with another acquirer in the same Member State or return of call-off stock to Estonia shall be presented in Form VDP, indicating in row "corrected":
- if the acquirer was replaced with another acquirer, the code of the country of the new acquirer (column 2 in the paper form) and the VAT identification number of the new acquirer (column 7 in the paper form); if call-off stock was returned to Estonia – the code of the country of the initially agreed acquirer (column 2 in the paper form) and the VAT identification number of the initially agreed acquirer (column 7 in the paper form);
- code of act, correspondingly "2" – "return of the goods to Estonia" or "3" – "the replacement of the acquirer of call-off stock with another acquirer“ (column 8 in the paper form);
- as "yes/no" answer, whether the act took place in full or not (it means whether the taxable person is about to transfer to the new acquirer or to return to Estonia the total amount of goods, transported to another Member State as call-off stock, or only part of it) (column 9 in the paper form).
In row "initially declared" on both cases shall be indicated the code of the country of the initially agreed acquirer of call-of stock (column 2 in the paper form), the VAT identification number of the initially agreed acquirer of call-off stock (column 7 in the paper form) and code of act (column 8 in the paper form).
As an exception, the definition of a triangular transaction is given in subsection 2 (8) of the Value-Added Tax Act. ‘A triangular transaction’ means a transaction for the transfer of goods, which involves taxable persons from three different Member States and who all are registered in their own Member States as taxable persons. In the case of a triangular transaction, the transaction is in question where goods are sold in two consecutive sales transactions and all three parties are situated in different Member States. According to the sales transaction, a taxable person A established in the first Member State (the transferor in the triangular transaction) sells the goods to a taxable person B established in the second Member State (the reseller in the triangular transaction) and who then in turn sells it on into the third Member State C (the acquirer in the triangular transaction); whereby the goods in question are transported directly from Member State A to Member State C.
If an Estonian taxable person is the transferor in the triangular transaction (A), he or she shall declare the intra-Community supply of goods in boxes 3, 3.1 and 3.1.1 of Form KMD and in column 3 of Form VD. If an Estonian taxable person is the reseller in the triangular transaction (B), he or she shall declare the triangular transaction in column 4 of Form VD. The resale in the triangular transaction is not the intra-Community supply of goods and the transaction shall not be declared in Form KMD. If an Estonian taxable person is the acquirer in the triangular transaction (C), he or she shall declare the acquisition in box 1 or 2, in boxes 4 and 7 of Form KMD. If such goods have been acquired wherefrom the input value added tax is entitled to be deducted, the amount of the calculated value-added tax shall be shown also in box 5 of Form KMD as the deductible input value-added tax.
The definition of call-off stock you find in subsection 2 (31) of the Value Added Tax Act. Call-off stock is goods transported to another Member State and waiting there for transfer, if all following conditions are met:
- the goods are transported by the taxable person to another Member State for the purpose of transferring the goods there to a person who is registered in that other Member State as a taxable person within 12 months as of their arrival, in accordance with an agreement concluded between taxable persons;
- the person to whom the goods are transported for transfer is registered as a taxable person in the Member State where the goods are transported and that person and the number of registration as a taxable person issued thereto in that Member State are known to the taxable person transporting the goods;
- the taxable person who is transporting the goods to another Member State does not have a seat or permanent establishment in the other Member State to which the goods are supplied;
- the taxable person keeps records of goods transported to another Member State pursuant to the procedure established on the basis of subsection 36 (5) of Value Added Tax Act;
- the taxable person presents the details of the acquirer of goods transported to another Member State in the report on intra-Community supply (Form VD).
Call-off stock shall be declared in Form VD/VDP in special block (separately from the block of intra-Community supply).
Upon the transport of call-off stock to another Member State, in Form VD (if the transport of call-off stock to another Member State was failed to present on time, then in Form VDP) shall be declared only the code of the country of the acquirer of call-of stock and the VAT identification number of the acquirer of call-off stock (it means, the taxable value shall not be declared).
If the goods transported to another Member State as call-off stock are not transferred there and are returned to Estonia within 12 months as of their arrival, Form VDP shall be filled in.
Filling in Form VDP, a taxable person must:
- find "Kauba teise liikmesriiki toimetamise toiming" ("Act of transport of the goods to another Member State"), using the button "Otsi" ("Search");
- push the button "Lisa uus rida" ("Add new row") and choose the new code of act "Kauba tagasi toimetamine Eestisse" ("Return of the goods to Estonia");
- choose "Toimingu periood" ("Period of act") – when the act took place;
- choose "Kas toiming täies mahus?" ("Act in full or not") as "Jah/Ei" ("Yes/No") answer – whether the total amount of goods, transported to another Member State as call-off stock, was returned to Estonia or only part of it.
If the initially agreed acquirer was replaced with another acquirer in the same Member State within 12 months as of arrival of call-off stock (it means, the conditions of call-off stock are still met), also Form VDP shall be filled in.
Filling in Form VDP, a taxable person must:
- find "Kauba teise liikmesriiki toimetamise toiming" ("Act of transport of the goods to another Member State"), using the button "Otsi" ("Search");
- push the button "Lisa uus rida" ("Add new row") and choose the new code of act “Kauba soetaja asendamine teise maksukohustuslasega” ("The replacement of the acquirer of call-off stock with another acquirer");
- choose "Toimingu periood" ("Period of act") – when the act took place;
- choose "Kas toiming täies mahus?" ("Act in full or not") as "Jah/Ei" ("Yes/No") answer – whether the taxable person is about to transfer to the new acquirer the total amount of goods, transported to another Member State as call-off stock, or only part of it;
- choose “Eelmise soetaja käibemaksukohustuslasena registreerimise number” ("VAT identification number of the previous acquirer").
Intra-Community acquisition of goods and the services received from a taxable person of another Member State shall be declared only in Form KMD and not in Form VD.
Last updated: 02.01.2024