The legal approach to VAT has been traditionally weighed down by some economicconsiderations as well as by a too formalistic approach. From that perspective, VATshould not be regarded as a turnover tax, as it is usually seen in the EU environment.Moreover, for the purposes of a legal approach it is necessary to differentiate betweenthe goal of VAT, which is to levy a tax on consumption, and the mechanism by whichthat result is intended. In the first case, one must not oversize the existence of someexceptions to the ordinary functioning of VAT; otherwise, there is a risk of distortingthe truth as regards the justification of the tax on the ability to pay principle. Regardingspecifically the tax mechanism, the most widespread notion cannot be accepted eitheras its excessive formalism also leads to a somehow distorted view. The chargeable eventalways involves the payment of the tax, however...