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Registration for IETF 87 in Berlin has re-opened

2013-07-05 10:57:50
Registration was suspended after discussions with tax specialists and attorneys 
convinced
us that that the rules had changed in the EU and Germany with regard to the 
impact of the
Value Added Tax (VAT) on registration fees.  

There is an EU requirement to impose the country's Value Added Tax to 
registration fees
where the meeting is held.  Accordingly, Germany's 19% VAT has to be collected 
and paid
over to the German tax authorities.  

The IAOC had to decide whether to change the registration fee to add the tax to 
it, or
whether to keep the fee in place for the meeting and state that the VAT was 
included in
the fee, which action would result in a registration revenue shortfall greater 
than
$100,000 USD. After discussions with the Internet Society the IAOC has decided 
not to change
the total registration fee for IETF87 because of the complexity of dealing with 
those who
have already paid, and those who had budgeted assuming a total fee of $650.  
ISOC has agreed
to cover any resulting yearly budget shortfall resulting from including the VAT 
in the IETF87
registration fee.  We thank the Internet Society for this support.

You will notice a change in your final receipt for the meeting,  It will 
include VAT information
and a VAT identification number.  It is expected that final receipts will 
become available in the
next two weeks.  You or your employer may qualify to recover the VAT.  We will 
be providing
guidance on this matter in the next two weeks.

We and the Internet Society have learned that VAT is a very complex matter and 
that expertise
is required on a going forward basis.  To that end the Internet Society is 
considering proposals
to retain a European tax specialist firm to assist us and them in the future.  
We will be
investigating similar issues in other regions.

This decision to not change the fee is for this meeting only. The 2014 Budget 
will take the VAT
into consideration when the fees are set for meetings in Europe next year and 
beyond.  

We look forward to seeing you in Berlin.

Bob Hinden
IAOC Chair


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