Eurojust calls on DCC for VAT reimbursements

In-house Scanning system and VAT-card make diplomatic life easier.

Having a diplomatic status, the National Members of Eurojust are subject to VAT exemptions. To bypass the lengthy procedure for VAT reimbursements in the Netherlands, where their head office is situated, Eurojust called on the diplomatic card company (DCC). Using the DCC VAT-card and In-house Scanning systems, paying VAT-free becomes easier and faster whilst remaining safe. About EurojustEurojust is an essential part of creating an area of freedom, security and justice in the European Union. From their headquarters in The Hague, Eurojust has the task of stimulating and improving the coordination and cooperation between the competent public prosecution offices in the Member States in order to fight cross- border crimes more effectively. Less known to the general public than its sister organization Europol, this European agency has a unique structure consisting out of national members from each member state and an EU administrative. Eurojust has proved to create the added value needed in a successful fight against cross-border crime.

Struggling with paperwork.

Klaus Meyer-Cabri, the National Member for Germany at Eurojust, moved to The Hague about six months ago and experienced a staggering amount of paperwork to receive VAT exemptions. “I had to collect my invoices and fill in specific documents, send those to the Dutch Tax Authorities to get approved and then get another approval from the Shop owner. Then finally, the VAT would be deposited on my account, this being sometimes two or three months after my purchase.” That is if Meyer-Cabri did not make a mistake filling in the documents. If he did, it would take months for the Dutch Tax authorities to inform Meyer-Cabri about the mistake and the diplomat would have to restart the procedure all over again.

Paying VAT-free

“The colleagues of Eurojust’s Relocation Office informed me on the concept of DCC”, Meyer-Cabri says. DCC’s main goal is to make the Diplomat’s stay in the Netherlands as comfortable and hassle-free as possible by making the VAT reimbursement procedure faster and easier. Manolis Arvantis, General Manager at Diplomatic Card Company, explains: “Becoming a member can be done by signing up via our website after which the VAT-card is delivered to the diplomat within five working days. The card enables paying without VAT at our connected retailers.” DCC is working hard to expand their network but diplomats simply are not yet able to use their VAT-card everywhere.

Easier Reimbursement

“Because the network is still limited for now, we delivered the In-house Scanning service to handle small invoices from retailers that are not yet connected”, Arvantis continues. Eurojust was an early adopter of this system. “All it takes is a few minutes on my lunch break”, Meyer-Cabri explains. “I enter the number of invoices, the station provides me with QR labels for each invoice, I scan the invoices with their corresponding QR label in the station and I’m done. From that point on DCC takes care of the rest. Within the week the VAT is reimbursed.”

Safety First

DCC made the VAT exemption procedure faster and easier but did not compromise its safety. DCC provides a code by text message when using the VAT-card or the In-house Scanning system to make sure no one other than the diplomat can use these systems. Furthermore DCC warns you immediately when you have made a mistake. This way you can act quicker to correct it.

“DCC’s reimbursement procedure has made my life easier. I hope that more shopkeepers will implement the DCC system so that the VAT can be deducted immediately at the point of sale. But thanks to the In-house Scanning system I can already be sure that my VAT reimbursement documents are being handled quickly and accurately and I don’t have to wait months”, Meyer-Cabri says. “Unfortunately, I’m still waiting on some reimbursements for invoices I mailed to the Dutch Tax Authorities according to the old procedure. It’s been three months already.”