General VAT rate to rise to 25.5% on Sept 1

The general Value Added Tax (VAT) rate will increase to 25.5 percent from the existing 24 percent from September 1.

The rate will be applied to the customs clearance of goods, said Finnish Customs in a press release on Friday.

The date of acceptance of the customs declaration determines the VAT rate. The order date is irrelevant.

If the customs declaration has been accepted no later than 31 August 2024, the general VAT rate of 24 percent is applied.

If the customs declaration has been submitted in advance, it can’t be accepted until the transport company has presented the goods as arrived in Finland.

If the customs declaration has been submitted in advance already in August, but it isn’t accepted until in September, the VAT rate is 25.5 per cent.

This change also applies to customs declarations submitted in Åland.