VATupdate Newsletter Week 06 2025

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SWOON

We all know VAT specialists don’t exactly make hearts race the way a firefighter might. In fact, the only time someone swoons over a VAT-person is when they’re really into spreadsheets. Now, we I mean, have you ever seen someone get all starry-eyed when a VAT specialist walks into a room? It’s more likely to be a yawn than a swoon.

A few years ago, the news reported on a rather… let’s call it ‘unusual’ case in Finland. A tax accountant was found dead at his desk. Yikes, right? He had been dead for three days, and the big question was why no one had checked on him sooner. The answer? Well, apparently, his colleagues thought he was just really immersed in a complex tax problem and didn’t want to disturb him. Imagine that. What a way to go—caught up in tax codes for eternity, perhaps. But hey, at least he died doing what he loved, right?

I’m not saying that the tax problem was VAT-related, but for some people that would not be a surprise. We mentioned before that we believe that VAT is fun, or at least some of the examples can of case-law make you giggle a bit. And it’s a small step from that giggle, to being the most loveable tax specialist. Or at least the less boring one.

Talking about boring: here’s another story about an accountant, who was having trouble falling asleep. Finally, he goes to his doctor and says, “Doctor, I can’t get to sleep at night.” The doctor, looking concerned, asks, “Have you tried counting sheep?” The accountant sighs and says, “That’s the problem—I made a mistake and spent three hours trying to find it.”

In all seriousness, though, the life of an accountant—or a VAT specialist—can sometimes feel a bit thankless. But, much like those sleepless nights spent chasing down that one elusive error, you keep pushing through for the sake of getting the numbers right. And while the swoon factor might not be in your favour, there’s one thing you can count on: when the VAT is accurate and on time, that’s when the real applause comes, even if it’s just the sound of your own sigh of relief.

Until next week’s update—stay organized, stay compliant, and remember: when in doubt, count your spreadsheets instead of sheep. For the latest news, visit www.vatupdate.com—because taxes may not make you swoon, but they will certainly keep you on your toes.

If you have any comments, questions, or ideas that you want to share with us, please send us an email at [email protected] or leave a comment under the posts of this newsletter on LinkedIn.

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