In this thesis, the author will write about what VAT is; who is liable for VAT in Finland; what the VAT reform is about and what it means; the goals of the reform; the expected costs and benefits that will arise with the reform and how they do with VAT in other EU countries. The writer has also tried to find out what accounting firms in Ostrobothnia have for expectations and opinions about the reform by interviewing some accountants.

The writer has used a literature study where she has searched for information in books, magazines, and the Internet. From the information she has obtained, she has tried to divide them into sensible and easy-to-understand headings and sub-headings. An empirical part has also been done in the form of interviews.

The writer has made a demarcation in the empirical part of the work and interviewed four accounting firms. The interviews were conducted with accounting firms in Swedish Ostrobothnia and afterward they were compiled and an interpretation of the results that emerged from the interviews was made.

The results show that all interviewed accounting firms are aware of the changes, but only a few of them have begun to prepare for the changes.