Experts from European supreme audit institutions addressed issues relating to VAT collection at a conference in Prague

PRESS RELEASE ON THE VAT CONFERENCE – 23 and 24 September 2026


The fight against value added tax (VAT) fraud and experiences from audits focusing on VAT collection were the main topics of a two-day international conference of auditors, hosted by the Supreme Audit Office (SAO) on 23 and 24 September at its Prague headquarters. The meeting of the EU Contact Committee Network on VAT also provided an opportunity to exchange up-to-date information on changes to European VAT legislation and on ways in which audits can help to reduce tax evasion.

The first day of the meeting was opened by representatives of the Czech “Daňová Kobra” (Tax Cobra) unit, a joint team comprising of representatives of the Financial Administration of the Czech Republic, the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic and the National Centre Against Organised Crime. They introduced the participants to a system of cooperation that enables more effective detection and combating of serious tax crime and tax evasion. The presentation also included video clips of real-life raids against perpetrators of tax offences.

Representatives of Europe’s supreme audit institutions then presented the results and lessons learnt from audits focusing, for example, on VAT collection, e-commerce and electronic sales recording systems. This exchange of experiences enabled participants to compare audit procedures and the approaches taken by individual countries to the risks associated with VAT collection.

Mr Ludwig de Winter from the European Commission provided an update on current developments in European legislation, presenting, for example, the timetable for the ViDA (VAT in the Digital Age) reform. The new regulations are intended to modernise the VAT system in the European Union between 2025 and 2035, support the digitalisation of tax processes, limit opportunities for tax evasion and reduce the administrative burden.

The EU Contact Committee brings together heads of supreme audit institutions of the European Union’s Member States and the European Court of Auditors. The Prague meeting was attended by more than 30 auditors from eleven countries, as well as representatives of the European Court of Auditors and the European Commission.

Communication Department
Supreme Audit Office

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  • Participants of the meeting of the EU Contact Committee Network on VATParticipants of the meeting of the EU Contact Committee Network on VAT