Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

Italy is reviewing the activation of its "mobile excise" mechanism to offset the VAT windfall caused by rising fuel prices, after oil prices surged above $100 per barrel on 9 March 2026. The government is considering cutting fixed excise duties to balance the increased VAT receipts generated by higher pump prices.

The article explains how the VAT classification of a travel business as an agent or principal determines whether VAT is charged on the full travel supply or only on the intermediary commission. It outlines the key contractual and commercial factors that influence this classification and highlights the financial implications for finance teams, including VAT accounting, input VAT recovery, and the applicability of the Tour Operators Margin Scheme (TOMS).

The article explains how usage‑based billing models—common in AI and SaaS—create complex VAT timing issues. It outlines when VAT is due for prepaid credits, hybrid pricing, tiered discounts, and the risks of delayed data processing. Tax teams are urged to embed VAT rules into billing workflows early to avoid compliance gaps.

Denmark’s parliament is considering Bill L125, which would abolish the coffee and chocolate consumption taxes from 1 July 2026 and introduce a 0 % VAT rate on books, e‑books and audiobooks. The bill also provides a refund mechanism for businesses to reclaim tax paid on stock held at the transition date, while earlier this year Denmark extended 25 % VAT to commercial leisure services.

The EU Court of Justice clarified that loyalty points in the Lyko case are discounts, not vouchers, because they cannot be redeemed independently of a purchase. This means VAT is charged on the full price of the initial purchase, and redemption of points reduces the VAT base of the subsequent purchase, while unused points require no VAT adjustment. The ruling also indicates that loyalty schemes that allow independent payment are treated as vouchers, triggering VAT at redemption.

Austria has increased its Intrastat reporting thresholds for 2026. From 1 January 2026, the arrivals threshold rises to €5 million per annum and the dispatch threshold to €1.2 million per annum. Statistical thresholds remain at €12 million for both arrivals and dispatches.

The Swiss federal government plans to increase VAT by 0.8 percentage points over a decade (2028‑2038) to raise CHF 31 bn for defence. The proposal requires a constitutional amendment, a new armaments fund law, and a national referendum in summer 2027. Consultation ends in May, with only the Centre party supporting the measure.

Sweden’s Riksdag approved a temporary reduction of the VAT rate on food from 12% to 6% effective 1 April 2026, lasting until 31 December 2027. The change aims to support household finances during the period.

France will enforce a comprehensive e‑invoicing and e‑reporting regime from 1 September 2026. Large and mid‑size enterprises must issue and receive electronic invoices immediately, while SMEs and micro‑enterprises will join the rollout in 2027. The reform covers domestic B2B, B2C, and cross‑border transactions, with special rules for overseas territories.

Spanish business and professional associations have called for fiscal deductions to help companies and self-employed professionals implement the new electronic invoicing and Verifactu systems, which are set to become mandatory on 1 January 2027. They argue that without such incentives, 3.3 million SMEs and 3.4 million self-employed could face a collapse in the rollout. The request is an amendment to the Royal Decree Law that maintains the 2027 deadline while seeking tax relief.

EY discusses the e-invoicing requirements for South Africa, outlining what CFOs and COOs should consider to comply with the new digital invoicing rules.

Belgium’s VAT chain reform introduces a new VAT provision account effective 1 May 2026, replacing the current account and changing account numbers. The summer regime for late filing will be abolished, and taxpayers can request historic VAT credits via MyMinfin. Key dates are 30 April 2026 for return submission and 1 May 2026 for the new account and credit transfer.

Mexico’s e‑invoicing regime, governed by the CFDI XML format (Anexo 20, version 4.0), applies universally to all taxpayers and covers B2B, B2C, and B2G transactions with no turnover threshold. The 2026 tax reform tightens authenticity checks, expands SAT enforcement powers, and imposes fines of 5–10 % of invoice value for non‑compliance.

The Western Cape High Court declared Section 7 of South Africa's VAT Act unconstitutional, ruling that the Minister of Finance cannot unilaterally raise the VAT rate. The court imposed a 12‑month period before Parliament can confirm or reject any VAT rate adjustments, and the proposed 1% increase announced in the 2025 Budget Speech was withdrawn.

Belgium’s VAT chain reform introduces a new VAT provision account effective 1 May 2026, replacing the current account and changing account numbers. Credit balances will transfer automatically if all periodic returns are filed by 30 April 2026, and the historic VAT credit can be claimed via MyMinfin. The summer regime is abolished, and the new account number BE41 6792 0036 4210 will be used for payments.

France’s e‑invoicing reform, which began on 1 September 2026, extends to foreign VAT‑registered businesses without a permanent establishment. These non‑resident firms must use an accredited platform to transmit e‑reporting data from September 2027, but are not required to issue French e‑invoices. Reporting is high‑frequency, with normal‑regime businesses filing three times a month and simplified‑regime businesses filing monthly.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) launched an EU‑wide investigation into a cross‑border VAT carousel fraud scheme involving luxury cars, estimating tax damage of over €103 million. Nine suspects were detained in Czechia and Germany, with more than 150 searches carried out in nine EU countries and assets seized worth €13.5 million. The offences span the period 2017‑2025.

The Court of Justice ruled that virtual currency used only within an online video game is not exempt under Article 135(1)(e) of the EU VAT Directive and is not a voucher under Article 30 bis. Consequently, such transactions are taxable electronic services, with VAT calculated on the full sale price. The decision clarifies that the exemption applies only to virtual currencies accepted as an alternative to legal tender and used solely as a payment instrument.

A parliamentary question and Treasury response have clarified that paid entries in UK prize draws are not exempt from VAT and will be taxed at the standard 20% rate. The voluntary code of conduct for prize draw operators, aimed at improving consumer protection, will take full effect on 20 May 2026. The sector is valued at £1.3 billion annually.

UAE businesses are discovering that self‑managed VAT filing can lead to significant penalties, lost refunds, and audit complications. The new penalty regime effective 14 April 2026 and the five‑year limitation period for VAT credits introduced on 1 January 2026 have increased the cost of DIY compliance. Professional services now offer measurable savings through accurate filing, proactive deadline management and timely refund claims.