Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Hoge Raad der Nederlanden (The Netherlands) lodged on 4 December 2008 — Staatssecretaris van Financiën v Facet BV/Facet Trading BV

(Case C-539/08)

(2009/C 44/57)

Language of the case: Dutch

Referring court

Hoge Raad der Nederlanden

Parties to the main proceedings

Appellant: Staatssecretaris van Financiën

Respondent: Facet BV/Facet Trading BV

Question referred

Must Article 17(2) and (3) and Article 28b(A)(2) of the Sixth Directive (1) be interpreted as meaning that, if the place of an intra-Community acquisition is deemed, on the basis of the first subparagraph of the latter provision, to be within the territory of the Member State which issued the VAT identification number under which the person acquiring made the acquisition, the aforementioned person acquiring the goods has the right immediately to deduct the VAT thus due in that Member State?

(1)  Sixth Council Directive 77/388/EEC of 17 May 1977 on the harmonization of the laws of the Member States relating to turnover taxes — Common system of value added tax: uniform basis of assessment (OJ L 145, p. 1).