VAT & Indirect Tax Intelligence
VAT news digest
Curated from global sources. Twice-weekly digest, free.
The Delhi government has reduced the VAT on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) from 25% to 7% effective 16 May 2026. The change applies to airlines purchasing fuel at Delhi airports, providing significant cost savings for the aviation sector.
Today's VAT news highlights key developments in Europe and the Americas, with notable rulings from the EU High Court and the French Supreme Court. Updates to VAT regulations in Serbia and guidance on VAT liability for electric vehicle charge points in the UK are also featured. Additionally, a review of Illinois sales tax and recent briefs from Revenue and Customs provide further insight into the evolving tax landscape.
Today's VAT news highlights key developments in the Middle East and Europe, including an extension to the UAE's e-invoicing mandate deadline. Additionally, we examine the intricacies of VAT obligations, deadlines, and requirements in Poland, providing insight for businesses operating in the region. These updates are crucial for companies to ensure compliance with evolving tax regulations in these jurisdictions.
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Kenya's Finance Bill 2026 expands VAT coverage to include a wide range of digital financial and payment processing services, effective 1 July 2026. Commissions earned by payment service providers on these services will be standard-rated for VAT, replacing previous exemptions. The change requires PSPs to reassess VAT treatment, update invoicing systems, and review contracts and pricing structures.
The EU's top court ruled that intercompany pricing adjustments between the former General Motors unit and Stellantis do not alter VAT liability, meaning the Portuguese government should not have increased the VAT bill for Stellantis. The decision clarifies that such pricing shifts are not subject to VAT adjustments.
Serbia has introduced significant amendments to its VAT Rulebook, effective from the April 2026 VAT period. Key changes include mandatory SEF self‑invoicing using the “Individual VAT Record – Internal account” document type, new rules for VAT base estimation, adjustments, discounts, and goods returns, and simplified timing and consolidation of adjustment documents. These reforms tighten compliance and digital reporting requirements across the country.
The CJEU ruled that profit margin adjustments in transfer pricing mechanisms do not automatically constitute consideration for a VATable service. The ruling clarifies that such adjustments may be treated as retroactive purchase price adjustments if not remuneration for a service, affecting the taxable amount of the original supply. This decision provides guidance for intra‑group arrangements and the need for a direct link between services and consideration.
The EU Court ruled that Stellantis’s price adjustments with local dealers are not taxable services, meaning the automaker does not owe VAT on those adjustments. The case involved agreements between Stellantis’s Portuguese unit and dealers that included price adjustments based on dealers’ expenditures to ensure a fixed margin. Portugal’s tax authority had challenged the arrangement.
Illinois imposes a statewide sales tax of 6.25% with local jurisdictions able to add additional rates. Remote sellers with over $100,000 in sales must register and collect tax, and exemption claims require an STAX-1 certificate. Filing can be done electronically via My Tax Illinois or on paper using forms ST‑1, ST‑2, and ST‑44.
This UK government brief outlines HMRC’s position on the VAT treatment of electricity supplied at public electric vehicle charge points, following a First‑tier Tribunal decision involving Charge My Street Limited. It clarifies how such supplies are treated for VAT purposes and provides guidance for suppliers and users.
The French Supreme Court reaffirmed that contractual arrangements determine the recipient of services for VAT purposes in the American Express case. It ruled that issuer commissions are considered services supplied to a non‑EU recipient, allowing the French entity to recover VAT on those commissions. The decision reinforces the importance of economic substance and contractual reality in VAT treatment.
UAE's Ministry of Finance has extended the deadline for large taxpayers to appoint an Accredited Service Provider (ASP) to 30 October 2026, while keeping the mandatory e‑invoicing go‑live dates unchanged. Large businesses must issue e‑invoices via the Peppol network in PINT AE format from 1 January 2027, with smaller businesses and government entities following in July and October 2027 respectively. The amendment also introduces a white‑label mechanism for ASP accreditation, allowing UAE‑based firms to partner with international technology providers.
The UAE Ministry of Finance has postponed the first phase of its e‑invoicing mandate, extending the deadline for large businesses to appoint an Accredited Service Provider (ASP) to 30 October 2026. The broader implementation timeline remains unchanged, with the pilot phase launching on 1 July 2026 and mandatory e‑invoicing via the Peppol network scheduled for 1 January 2027 for large firms, 1 July 2027 for smaller businesses, and 1 October 2027 for government entities.
Poland’s VAT regime requires businesses to file the JPK_V7 XML report by the 25th day of the month following the billing period, with a 12% annual statutory interest on late payments. Small businesses benefit from a turnover exemption that rises from 200,000 PLN to 240,000 PLN in 2026, while refund processing times are shortened to 40 days. Penalties include a 500 PLN fine per JPK error and a 14‑day correction window.
The UAE Ministry of Finance has extended the deadline for appointing Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) for the eInvoicing system to 30 October 2026. Entities with annual revenues exceeding AED 50 million must fully implement eInvoicing by 1 January 2027. Amendments to Ministerial Decisions now allow local firms to partner with third‑party providers, and 32 ASPs have been approved.
The Ministry of Finance has extended the deadline for appointing Accredited Service Providers (ASP) for e‑invoicing to 30 October 2026 for businesses with annual revenues above AED 50 million. The mandatory implementation deadline remains 1 January 2027. The amendment also introduces a white‑label framework enabling UAE firms to partner with international providers.
