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The UK Chancellor announced temporary VAT cuts from 20% to 5% on family attractions during school holidays, effective from the end of June to 1 September 2026. Additional measures include free bus journeys for under‑16s in England in August, a 12‑month HGV road tax holiday, and a one‑third reduction in red diesel duty until the end of 2026. Business leaders argue the cuts are insufficient to support hospitality and other sectors.
Today's VAT news highlights significant developments in European and international taxation, including the implementation of automated VAT assessments and e-invoicing systems in several countries. Italy and Sweden are leading the charge in Europe with new measures to enhance tax compliance, while the Dominican Republic has introduced mandatory e-invoicing in the Americas. Additionally, proposed taxes on e-commerce parcels in Austria and VAT increases in Ukraine in exchange for EU loans demonstrate the ongoing evolution of VAT policies worldwide.
In today's VAT update, we highlight key developments across Europe, Africa, and APAC, including the VAT implications of transfer pricing adjustments and recent changes to VAT relief and refund systems in Ukraine and Egypt. Additionally, notable court rulings and regulatory updates in countries such as India and Belgium are also discussed. These changes aim to improve tax efficiency and clarify existing rules, with significant implications for businesses operating globally.
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The UK government has introduced a temporary 5% VAT rate on admission to certain family attractions, effective from 25 June to 1 September 2026, replacing the standard 20% rate. The cut covers museums, planetariums, heritage sites, nature reserves, botanical gardens, children’s meals and performance‑venue tickets marketed for children, but excludes seasonal passes beyond 1 September unless priced similarly to day tickets. Charities already exempt from VAT do not benefit unless they operate through a VAT‑registered trading subsidiary.
UK announced a temporary emergency VAT reduction from 20% to 5% on children’s meals and family attraction tickets for the 2026 summer holidays. The relief applies from 25 June to 1 September 2026 and covers specific categories such as dedicated children’s meals, family admission tickets, and attractions like theme parks and museums. Businesses may adjust VAT retrospectively and refund excess charges.
Latvia will lower the VAT rate on a range of essential food items from 21% to 12% effective 1 July 2026, following an agreement between the Ministry of Economics and retailers. The change covers bread, milk, poultry products, eggs and flour, and is designed to be fully reflected in consumer prices. The move is part of a broader low‑price basket initiative aimed at easing food costs for residents.
China has expanded its instant VAT refund scheme for foreign tourists, allowing refunds at the point of sale and simplifying customs checks. From 1 July 2026, customs will conduct random inspections for claims below CNY 10,000, while tourists must validate claims within 28 days of purchase. The reforms aim to boost inbound tourism and consumer spending.
The UK will apply a temporary 5% VAT rate to children's meals, admission tickets to theatres, cinemas, concerts, exhibitions, shows, and family attractions from 25 June 2026 to 1 September 2026 inclusive. The reduced rate ends on 1 September 2026, after which the standard rate resumes.
Greece has rolled out its first phase of mandatory B2B e‑invoicing, targeting large companies from March 2026 and all companies by October 2026, with full penalty enforcement from May 2026. The e‑transportation regime, part of the myDATA platform, now requires real‑time tracking of goods, with Phase A becoming fully mandatory in December 2025 and Phase B fully mandatory from October 2026. The new rules also introduce item‑level classification using the Unified Commodity Coding System from January 2027.
From 1 January 2026, Italy has enacted a new automated VAT assessment regime for omitted annual returns, allowing the tax authority to calculate VAT due using e‑invoicing and other digital data. The automated determination must be completed by 31 December of the seventh year following the missing return, and penalties are capped at 120% of VAT due, reducible to one‑third if paid within 60 days of notice.
The Swedish Ministry of Finance has appointed a special commissioner to lead a comprehensive inquiry into the implementation of the EU’s ViDA directive. The commission, launched on 5 February 2026, is expected to submit its findings and legislative proposals by 30 November 2027, with Sweden required to meet EU digital reporting obligations by 1 July 2030. The review will assess mandatory e‑invoicing for domestic transactions and cross‑border B2B digital reporting.
Dominican Republic has extended the deadline for small businesses to adopt mandatory e-CF e-invoicing from 15 May 2026 to 15 November 2026, while large taxpayers were required to have adopted the system by 31 December 2025. E‑CF invoices must be produced in XML format and submitted to DGII, and taxpayers must register with DGII on the National Register of Taxpayers before implementation. The system also requires specific invoice types to be processed through the e‑CF portal.
Austria is proposing a €2 delivery tax on B2C e-commerce parcels from large sellers, effective 1 October 2026, payable by the seller and triggered upon payment acceptance. The measure targets sellers with >€100 million in Austrian distance sales and aligns with the EU's upcoming €3 customs levy on low-value imports from 1 July 2026. Consultation on the proposal runs until 26 May 2026.
The EU has tied part of a €90 billion loan to Ukraine to VAT reforms, demanding the country adopt a 20 % VAT on foreign parcels and a 20 % rate for simplified‑taxation companies with annual revenue above 4 million hryvnias. The loan will be disbursed in tranches in June, September and at year‑end, contingent on the reforms being finalized.
Oman will introduce mandatory e‑invoicing for B2B and B2G transactions using a 5‑corner Peppol network, and for B2C via a clearance model through OTA’s Fawtara platform. The rollout begins with a pilot in August 2026, followed by mandatory phases in February 2027 and August 2027 for all VAT‑registered taxpayers.
Italy’s e‑invoicing system will adopt new SDI technical specifications effective 15 May 2026, adding VAT‑group checks, expanded accreditation limits, and a sports‑worker exemption code. The ViDA directive will require Italy to shift from its centralized SdI model to a decentralized reporting architecture by 1 January 2035, and to adopt the EN16931 standard. These changes affect ERP vendors, e‑invoicing service providers, and all businesses issuing electronic invoices in Italy.
