Businesses operating in Denmark and rendering services to businesses in other countries that are members of the European Union are accustomed to invoicing their work excluding VAT. This is due to the fact that sales of services are covered by the rules concerning “reverse charge”. Consequently, the customer is required to pay acquisition VAT.
This arrangement does not, however, extent to the sale of services in the Norwegian market due to the fact that Norway is not a member of the European Union.
Businesses operating in Denmark that are rendering services for a total amount exceeding NOK 50,000 annually, shall - as a general rule - register for VAT in Norway if they perform work on real estate, if they are carrying out installation or assembly projects or if they are rendering services related to movables.
Hence, a Danish installation business assigned the responsibility of renovating a number of electrical panels in Norway must register for VAT in Norway. The same applies to a Danish carpenter business assigned to replace windows in properties in Norway as well as Danish businesses assigned to i.e. paint floors, cast foundations or mount steel rafters.
The employees must also be registered. They are required to have a so-called “build card”, if they are going to work within the construction industry.
VAT registration in Norway requires that the Danish business has a Norwegian representative who is responsible for accounting and reporting of VAT to the Norwegian authorities. Often, a lawyer or an accountant assumes the role of representative.
When a Danish business invoices its Norwegian customer, the VAT representative's name and address must appear on the invoice and the invoiced amount is subject to Norwegian VAT (25 pct.) which must be included on the invoice. It is possible to invoice in a currency other than NOK. However, in that case, the amount of VAT must be stated in NOK.
If the Danish business uses subcontractors for some of the work, the subcontractors are also required to register for VAT in Norway. Consequently, the parties shall invoice each other including Norwegian VAT and the Danish business is allowed to offset the input VAT against its Norwegian output VAT.
If the Danish business brings equipment worth more than NOK 10,000 to Norway to be used for the tasks that shall be rendered in Norway, the Danish business is required to pay import VAT, unless a so-called “ATA Carnet” has been issued with a description of the equipment or a list of the equipment has been prepared. The list must be stamped by the Norwegian Customs upon entry into Norway.
If you have any queries regarding VAT in relation to your business, BDO will be pleased to advise you.
The above article is taken from tax:watch, our electronic English newsletter on Danish Tax and VAT matters. tax:watch is issued on the last Friday of each month and is free of charge.