Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

Malta opposition leader Alex Borg defended his proposal to cut VAT on restaurants and kiosks from 18% to 7%, arguing it would benefit around 3,000 catering businesses. Finance Minister Clyde Caruana opposed the measure, citing a €140 million cost that would match the 2024 tax cut and only benefit a small sector. Borg accused Caruana of branding restaurateurs as thieves.

Spain has proposed cutting the VAT on fuel from 21% to 10% as part of a €5 billion support package to mitigate the economic impact of the Iran war. The measures also suspend the hydrocarbon excise duty, eliminate a 5% electricity consumption tax, and grant a 20‑cent per litre subsidy for farming and transport sectors. The proposals await parliamentary approval and are aimed at reducing fuel prices by 30–40 cents per litre.

The article explains how UAE’s new e‑invoicing regime requires more than just XML formatting; it demands accurate interpretation of key data fields. Field 5, an 8‑character binary sequence, flags transaction scenarios such as free‑zone or export, while Field 11, the seller’s electronic address, identifies the network endpoint for responses. Correctly mapping these fields is essential for compliance and accurate VAT processing.

UK tribunal judge ruled that public EV charging should be taxed at the 5% domestic electricity rate rather than the 20% commercial rate, based on a de‑minimis threshold of 1,000 kWh per month. The decision, made after a challenge by Deloitte for Charge My Street, applies to B2C usage but leaves B2B charging at 20% pending further guidance. HMRC may appeal, but the ruling could reduce the ‘pavement tax’ on public charging.

Spain announced a €5 billion anti‑crisis package that cuts VAT on fuels, electricity and gas from 21% to 10% and extends the social electricity bonus until December 2026. The plan also provides an 80% toll rebate for exposed industries and 20 cents per litre aid for the agricultural sector.

Spain has announced a temporary reduction of fuel VAT from 21% to 10% as part of an emergency indirect tax package aimed at easing inflation caused by Middle East conflict. The package also suspends excise duties on hydrocarbons, scraps a 5% electricity consumption tax, and mirrors the 2022 VAT inflation shield.

Spain has temporarily lowered VAT on petrol, electricity and natural gas from 21% to 10% as part of a €5bn cost‑of‑living package announced by President Pedro Sánchez. The Royal Decree‑Law will take effect after publication in the Official State Gazette on 21 March 2026, and includes reductions in excise duties and electricity taxes.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance unveiled a draft law that will overhaul VAT rules for individual entrepreneurs, digital platforms, and parcel deliveries. Key changes include a new 4 million UAH threshold for mandatory VAT registration effective 1 Jan 2027, a 5 % tax on digital platform income with specific caps, revised military tax rates, and new VAT rules for distance‑sale parcels with exemptions up to 45 EUR.

A UK tax tribunal has ruled that VAT on public EV charging should be reduced from 20% to 5%, a change that could correct the imbalance for drivers without home chargers. The ruling has not yet been adopted by HMRC, and the article discusses how shared charging infrastructure can complement tax reform to accelerate fleet electrification.

The UK guidance explains how to cancel a VAT registration, either online or by post, using form VAT 7 for individual businesses and form VAT 50‑51 for VAT groups. It advises that businesses should not cancel immediately after an insolvency practitioner’s appointment if asset sales are pending, as VAT on those sales must still be reported. The guidance references Notice 700/11 for further details.

The Norwegian Tax Appeals Board ruled that data centre services supplied to non‑residents are not fully exported services; the portion involving physical storage, monitoring, power and infrastructure must attract Norwegian VAT. The decision rejects the view that such services are entirely remote and VAT‑exempt, and provides analysis that may interest other jurisdictions.

The blog post summarizes a session at ELEVATE 2026, emphasizing that VAT automation is now essential for global operations. It outlines practical steps—data stabilization, standardization, pilot automation, and continuous optimization—and highlights the role of co‑sourcing and AI in elevating tax teams from operators to strategic advisors.

Morocco has introduced a new VAT regime for non‑resident digital service providers, requiring quarterly registration, reporting and payment via a dedicated electronic platform effective 11 June 2026. The 20 % VAT rate applies to B2C digital services, with detailed transaction‑level reporting mandated within 30 days of each quarter. B2B digital services remain nil‑rated for foreign suppliers, with reverse charge applied by Moroccan VAT‑registered businesses.

Norway will introduce mandatory B2B e-invoicing in two phases: issuers must start sending e-invoices from 1 January 2027, and all businesses must receive them by 1 January 2030. The Ministry of Finance also proposes that electronic accounting systems be mandatory from 2030 to support automatic booking. These changes follow a July 2025 consultation and reflect Norway’s push toward digital invoicing.

The UK government has introduced the Value Added Tax (Refund of Tax to Great British Nuclear) Order 2026, allowing companies designated under section 317 of the Energy Act 2023 (GBE‑N) to claim VAT refunds on services that support their non‑business activities. The order was published on 18 March 2026 and provides a statutory framework for these refunds.

Slovakia will enforce a 2027 e‑invoicing mandate for B2B and B2G domestic transactions, requiring invoices to be issued and received in the EU EN16931 structured format and reported in real‑time to the Finance Administration. The mandate will roll out in stages, with a voluntary transition in early 2026 and full compliance by 1 January 2027, while intra‑community e‑invoicing will become mandatory from July 2030. Additional changes include tax‑registration reforms effective 1 January 2026 to curb fraud and the replacement of control statements with the new e‑invoicing regime.

On 19 February 2026, Togo will impose an 18% VAT on foreign digital services supplied to consumers, following the 2026 Finance Law and a ministerial order. Digital platforms must collect and remit VAT and report annual income, with a 10% penalty for non‑compliance. The regime also introduces mandatory certified e‑invoicing for VAT‑registered businesses.

A UK tribunal decision in 2024 may allow U.S. biopharma firms with UK operations to claim VAT refunds on prior NHS sales, potentially unlocking up to £2.5 billion. The ruling is under review by the Upper Tribunal, with a judgment expected within the next three to four months. Companies must notify HMRC and register protection claims now to preserve their right to recover VAT within a four‑year window.

Fintua’s blog post reviews Ireland’s upcoming e‑invoicing mandate under the EU’s Digital Reporting Requirements, outlining the phased implementation schedule and the planned adoption of Peppol. It highlights the 10‑day invoicing window, the 2030 compliance deadline, and the role of AI in ensuring data quality. The piece serves as a practical guide for Irish businesses preparing for the new digital VAT regime.

Malawi will extend VAT to non-resident digital services from 1 April 2026, requiring foreign providers to charge the standard 17.5% rate. The new regime, announced in the 2026/27 Budget Policy Statement, also doubles the VAT registration threshold to MWK 50 million and covers services such as streaming, online advertising, e‑learning and digital content platforms.