OREANDA-NEWS. February 25, 2013. SORAINEN Estonia is co-representing a large fuel retailer in the court of appeals reclaiming the municipal sales tax from the City of Tallinn. The case is based on the municipal sales tax being contrary to EU law.

According to the claim, municipal sales tax was contrary to Directive 2008/118/EC on general arrangements for excise duty as it served no ”specific purposes" within the meaning of article 1 paragraph 2 of the Directive. This is a precedent setting case as on the basis of it several fuel retailers will be able to file similar claims against the municipality in the near future. The court has decided to ask for an opinion from the Court of Justice of the EU on this matter.

The client is being advised by partner Carri Ginter and senior associate Veikko Puolakainen.