EBF and 22 other associations call on Member States to preserve the ambition of the Tax Simplification Package

EBF and 22 other associations call on Member States to preserve the ambition of the Tax Simplification Package 

Brussels, 28 October 2026 – The European Banking Federation (EBF), together with BusinessEurope and 21 other business, financial and professional associations, has co-signed a joint statement calling on EU Member States to preserve the ambition of the European Commission’s Tax Simplification Package and reach agreement on the proposed measures. The statement highlights the importance of reducing unnecessary tax-related administrative burdens to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, support investment and innovation, and enable businesses to grow across the Single Market. The package could save European businesses around €8 billion annually.

The signatories call for a more coherent and efficient tax framework, highlighting several priorities: 

• Reduce unnecessary administrative burdens. Tax simplification should contribute to the Commission’s objectives of reducing administrative costs by at least 25% for companies and 35% for SMEs. 

• Eliminate inefficient processes. Tax collected only to be refunded creates unnecessary costs for both businesses and tax administrations.

• Remove barriers to cross-border investment. Withholding taxes should not continue to hinder investment within the Single Market.

• Avoid duplication in reporting requirements. Businesses should not have to provide information that tax administrations already hold.

• Accelerate the delivery of benefits. Simplification measures should deliver tangible benefits sooner rather than being unnecessarily delayed.

The statement stresses that simplification does not mean weakening tax enforcement. While revenue considerations, safeguards and implementation must be addressed in the negotiations, these should not undermine the package’s original ambition.

The signatories call on Member States to reach an agreement that delivers a genuinely simpler tax framework and maintains the ambition of the Commission’s proposals, helping remove barriers to competitiveness and support sustainable economic growth in Europe.

Read the full document here

For more information:

Roger Kaiser, Head of Tax and Compliance – r.kaiser@ebf.eu

Giulia Verde, Policy Adviser/Executive Coordinator, Tax and Compliance – g.verde@ebf.eu

Anna Maria Nowak, Policy Advisor – Tax and Compliance – am.nowak@ebf.eu

About the EBF:

The European Banking Federation is the voice of the European banking sector, bringing together national banking associations from across Europe. The federation is committed to a thriving European economy that is underpinned by a stable, secure, and inclusive financial ecosystem, and to a flourishing society where financing is available to fund the dreams of citizens, businesses and innovators everywhere.