VAT & Indirect Tax Intelligence
VAT news digest
Curated from global sources. Twice-weekly digest, free.
France will require all VAT-taxable businesses to receive electronic invoices from 1 September 2026, with large and mid-sized firms also issuing them. Smaller companies must issue and e-report from 1 September 2027, and all must use a government-approved Plateforme Agréée to comply.
Here are this week's top VAT and indirect tax updates.
Today's VAT headlines highlight a mix of constitutional, regulatory and policy developments across regions. The Supreme Court confirmed the constitutionality of the refund scheme for foreign tourists in APAC, while a European appeals court extended VAT exemption to education services; in the United States, California's SB 122 broadens the
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Romania has ended the grace period for small taxpayers in its B2B e-invoicing programme, effective 1 July 2026. From this date, ANAF can enforce the e-Factura requirements and impose penalties for non-compliance, requiring all domestic B2B invoices to be submitted within five working days.
France confirms its e-invoicing and e-reporting launch remains on 1 September 2026, with a Practical Guide to help businesses transition. The guide outlines six priorities and allows temporary use of paper or PDF invoices during technical difficulties, with penalties softened until January 2027.
United Arab Emirates: The Federal Tax Authority has amended the mandatory e-invoicing timetable, extending deadlines for high-revenue businesses. Businesses with annual revenue of at least AED 50 million must appoint an Accredited Service Provider by 30 October 2026 and implement e-invoicing by 1 January 2027.
Morocco has begun applying a 20% VAT on digital services from foreign providers such as Netflix and ChatGPT, effective 11 June 2026. The measure requires foreign platforms to register, file quarterly returns and remit VAT through a new electronic portal. Moroccan consumers will ultimately pay the higher tax on their subscriptions.
EU: The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Austria's VAT exemption for certain banking and insurance transactions was state aid. The ruling invalidates the Austrian law that provided a value-added tax exemption for those sectors.
Belgium's VAT administration has issued key updates for the summer filing period, including new deadlines, a new bank account, and the abolition of the holiday scheme. A transitional penalty exemption allows June returns until 10 August and July returns until 10 September. VAT payments must now be made to the new account BE41 6792 0036 4210.
EU lowers import duties on U.S. goods as Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 enters into force on 1 July 2026. The regulation eliminates duties on many industrial products, reduces duties on agricultural goods, and introduces tariff-rate quotas for selected items.
Germany's Annual Tax Act 2026 introduces significant VAT reforms, including a shift to application-based VAT grouping and changes to non-monetary supply taxation. Key changes take effect from 1 January 2027, with the VAT grouping reform applying from 1 January 2029, requiring businesses to apply electronically.
UK: The First-tier Tribunal ruled that HBS Enterprises Ltd, a UK-established business, remains liable for VAT on marketplace sales, despite HMRC’s misclassification as a non-established taxable person. The ruling confirms that the deemed supplier provision does not apply when the vendor is established in the UK, and that double taxation is avoided.
The United Arab Emirates has designated Comarch as an Accredited Service Provider for its upcoming e-invoicing mandate. The company will act as a Trust Anchor, managing secure data transmission and real-time clearance for businesses. The January 2027 deadline and penalty of AED 5,000 for non-appointment underscore the urgency.
The EU Court of Justice has ruled that a person liable for VAT in one member state cannot also be held jointly and severally liable for VAT owed by an entity established in another member state. This decision clarifies cross-border VAT liability rules within the EU. The ruling applies to Greek cases and other EU member states.
The EU One Stop Shop (OSS) is a VAT scheme that allows businesses to register in one member state and file a single quarterly return for cross-border B2C sales. It applies to EU-based companies with aggregate sales above €10,000 and to non-EU businesses with a fixed establishment in the EU. The scheme simplifies compliance but does not replace domestic VAT returns.
Finland's Tax Board clarified the VAT treatment of e-commerce payment services in a preliminary decision effective from 28 April 2026. The ruling distinguishes between taxable factoring services for the provider's own payment methods, VAT-subject technical API services, and VAT-exempt payment processing from external providers.
Today's VAT news highlights key developments affecting businesses globally, including the implications of marketplace facilitator laws for online sellers in the Americas and updates on GST treatment for advance payments in the APAC region. Meanwhile, European businesses are preparing for significant changes to customs rules and VAT registration. These updates, along with guides to state-specific sales tax and upcoming EU VAT reforms, underscore the need for businesses to stay informed about evolving tax regulations.
