Judgment_paragraph 35 · Slovenské Energetické Strojárne a.s. v Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal Fellebbviteli Igazgatósága (C-746/22)

35Like the right to deduct, the right to a refund is a fundamental principle of the common system of VAT established by EU legislation, and, in principle, may not be limited. That right is exercisable immediately in respect of all the taxes charged on input transactions. The deduction system, and accordingly the refund system, is intended to relieve the operator entirely of the burden of the VAT due or paid in the course of all his or her economic activities. The common system of VAT therefore ensures neutrality of taxation of all economic activities, whatever their purpose or results, provided that they are themselves, in principle, subject to VAT (judgment of 21 October 2021, CHEP Equipment Pooling, C‑396/20, EU:C:2021:867, paragraph 36 and the case-law cited).