Skip to main content
VAT rules for small enterprises – SME scheme

Croatia SME rules

SME Scheme – General features

Exemption

It is possible to opt for the SME scheme in Croatia.

 

Transactions excluded from the SME scheme

The following transactions are excluded from the SME scheme:

  • Exempt cross-border supplies of new means of transport made from one Member State to another.
  • Supplies for which small taxable persons must pay VAT under reverse charge mechanism 

National annual threshold

The annual threshold in Croatia is 60.000 Euro.

The information on the national annual threshold is available on TEDB.

Domestic SME scheme

Simplified VAT obligations

A small enterprise established in Croatia who applies the SME scheme in Croatia only (domestic SME scheme) is released from the following VAT obligations: 

  • to VAT register, except when they carry out certain transactions with other Member States
  • to submit VAT returns

Small enterprises applying the domestic SME scheme only must fulfil the following VAT obligations:

  • to issue invoices
  • to keep accounts
  • to submit administrative statements

Cross-border SME scheme

The cross-border SME scheme applies in the following situation(s):

  1. The small enterprise applies the SME scheme in other Member States than the Member State of establishment, or;
  2. The small enterprise applies the SME scheme both in the Member State of establishment and in other Member State(s).

Simplified VAT obligations

The VAT registration in each Member State where the small enterprise applies the SME scheme is replaced by a single prior notification to be submitted in the Member State of establishment. 

The periodical VAT returns are replaced by a single quarterly report for all Member States to be submitted in the Member State of establishment. 

Currency

The values of supplies of goods and services to indicate in the prior notification, in the update to a prior notification and in the quarterly reports must be in EUR. 

Way of submission

The prior notification, the update to a prior notification and the quarterly reports should be submitted by electronic means on this page.

Additional simplified VAT obligations

Exempt small enterprises applying the cross-border SME scheme in Croatia are released from the following VAT obligations:

  • to issue full invoices (SME can use simplified invoicing)

Loss of simplified VAT obligations

Non-compliant small enterprises may be required: 

  • to VAT register
  • to submit periodical VAT returns

 

Transitional period

Croatia does not apply any transitional period in case the national annual threshold is exceeded during the current calendar year.

The transitional period applicable can be found in the TEDB database.
 

Quarantine

Quarantine period in case of exclusion from the SME scheme

In Croatia, in case of exclusion from the SME scheme, the small enterprise excluded from the SME scheme cannot benefit from this exemption during a quarantine period of 1 year.

Quarantine period in case of voluntary departure from the SME scheme

Small enterprises who decide to voluntarily leave the SME scheme in Croatia are not able to benefit from that exemption during a quarantine period of current calendar year and the following calendar year.

You can consult the quarantine period applicable in Croatia on TEDB database.

Appeals

Domestic SME scheme

Appeals should be addressed to your Member State of establishment (MSEST).

Cross-border SME scheme

Member State of establishment (MSEST)

Appeals related to the following topics should be addressed to MSEST:

  • Union annual turnover
  • Prior notification, correction and update to a prior notification
  • Quarterly reports and correction of a quarterly report
  • Exclusion for exceeding the Union annual turnover

Member State of exemption (MSEXE)

Appeals related to the following topics should be addressed to MSEXE:

  • National annual turnover
  • Denial to access the cross-border SME scheme in MSEXE
  • Loss of simplified VAT obligations in respect of MSEXE
  • Exclusion for exceeding the national annual threshold/sectoral threshold in MSEXE

Calendar

VAT simplified procedures

VAT simplified procedures

Simplified procedures are not applied.

Cash Accounting

Businesses that do not benefit from the special scheme for small businesses and are established in Croatia may apply the cash VAT scheme if they have an annual turnover in Croatia not exceeding two million euros.