Curated from 50+ official sources. Twice-weekly digest, free.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has approved a new experiment allowing importers to defer VAT payments for up to three months from the release of goods. Eligible companies must be registered as authorized economic operators or backbone companies, apply a general taxation regime, and have no arrears or legal proceedings. The decree sets specific eligibility criteria and a 3‑month deferral window.
The UK Treasury has appealed a tax tribunal decision that ruled public electric vehicle charge points should be subject to 5% VAT. The tribunal had determined that public charge points fall within the domestic electricity supply VAT cut, but the government is contesting this. The appeal was lodged within the 56‑day deadline.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has approved a new experiment allowing importers to defer VAT payments for up to three months from the release of goods. Eligible companies must be registered as authorized economic operators or backbone companies, apply a general taxation regime, and have no arrears or legal proceedings. The decree sets specific eligibility criteria and a 3‑month deferral window.
The UK Treasury has appealed a tax tribunal decision that ruled public electric vehicle charge points should be subject to 5% VAT. The tribunal had determined that public charge points fall within the domestic electricity supply VAT cut, but the government is contesting this. The appeal was lodged within the 56‑day deadline.
Today's VAT news highlights key developments in Europe, including a significant shift in Russia's import policies with the introduction of a VAT payment deferral option for importers. Meanwhile, the rollout of eInvoicing systems continues to gain traction, with valuable lessons emerging from real-world implementations. These updates underscore the evolving landscape of VAT regulations and compliance requirements across the region.
Today's VAT news highlights significant developments across the globe, including cuts to fuel VAT rates in Kenya and the introduction of VAT on iGaming services in Ecuador. In other regions, Singapore is expanding its InvoiceNow adoption, while Belgium's VAT threshold reform is expected to have minimal impact on its e-invoicing plans for 2026. These updates, along with insights from Deloitte on Canada's indirect tax landscape, demonstrate the ongoing evolution of VAT policies and regulations worldwide.
“Global VAT news, delivered Tuesday and Thursday. Free, curated from 50+ official sources, no spam.”
Germany has released new versions of its e‑invoicing standards, including Peppol, KoSIT, and ZUGFeRD, to improve cross‑border interoperability and simplify implementation. The updates introduce a Central Settlement (ZR) framework, gross invoice processing for specific sectors, and updated reference templates for various transaction types.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree launching a pilot program that allows importers to defer VAT payments by up to three months, interest‑free. The program applies only to goods imported from outside the Eurasian Economic Union and is available to companies meeting specific eligibility criteria. It will run until June 30, 2027.
The article outlines practical lessons for businesses preparing for e‑invoicing mandates across Europe, highlighting the Belgian experience with the Peppol network, Poland’s KSeF system, and the importance of early stakeholder alignment, data quality, and automation. It stresses that compliance deadlines are tight, with Belgium’s mandate taking effect in December 2025 and a March 2026 compliance check revealing 17 % non‑compliance.
Poland’s parliament is reviewing a draft bill to temporarily zero‑rate domestic food items, excluding imports, from 1 April to 31 December 2026. The proposal would reduce the current 5 % VAT on a defined list of staple foods to 0 %, mirroring earlier COVID‑era cuts. Imported food would not benefit from the relief.
Law No. 7577, published on 17 April 2026, introduces significant amendments to Turkish tax, social security, energy, and real‑estate legislation. Key changes include new VAT exemptions for property transfers to public authorities, expanded non‑deductibility of advertising for gaming sectors, broadened free‑zone income benefits, and a presidential power to adjust unemployment insurance contributions by up to 50%.
Spain’s new ministerial order on electronic invoicing takes effect on 1 October 2026, starting the clock for adaptation periods. Companies with annual turnover above €8 million must be compliant by 1 October 2027, while others must comply by 1 October 2028. The order activates the technical framework set out in Law 18/2022 and Royal Decree 238/2026.
Spain’s Council of Ministers approved Royal Decree 238/2026 mandating structured B2B e-invoicing and 4‑day real‑time reporting. The phased rollout will start on 1 Oct 2027 for large firms (€8 m+ turnover) and extend to all taxpayers by 1 Oct 2028, with payment status reporting added in 2029. The regime requires EN 16931‑UBL invoices, a faithful copy to the public system, and a free public platform built by the Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria.
Germany has released new versions of its e‑invoicing standards, including Peppol, KoSIT, and ZUGFeRD, to improve cross‑border interoperability and simplify implementation. The updates introduce a Central Settlement (ZR) framework, gross invoice processing for specific sectors, and updated reference templates for various transaction types.
Germany has released new versions of its e‑invoicing standards, including Peppol, KoSIT, and ZUGFeRD, to improve cross‑border interoperability and simplify implementation. The updates introduce a Central Settlement (ZR) framework, gross invoice processing for specific sectors, and updated reference templates for various transaction types.
The article analyzes over 200 e-invoicing vendors across 120+ countries, revealing a highly fragmented market where most vendors specialize in a single country or compliance model. It highlights that 15+ countries have e-invoicing deadlines in 2026 and identifies five distinct compliance models worldwide, underscoring the need for multinational buyers to evaluate vendors by model coverage rather than country count.
Singapore’s GST InvoiceNow e‑invoicing mandate, effective November 2025, requires all GST‑registered businesses to transmit invoices through the national InvoiceNow network using structured XML standards such as SG Peppol BIS or PINT‑SG and to report invoice data to IRAS. The article outlines buyer and supplier responsibilities, handling of exceptions (PDF, cross‑border, inter‑company) and stresses the need for robust process controls and compliance confidence.
Germany has released new versions of its e‑invoicing standards, including Peppol, KoSIT, and ZUGFeRD, to improve cross‑border interoperability and simplify implementation. The updates introduce a Central Settlement (ZR) framework, gross invoice processing for specific sectors, and updated reference templates for various transaction types.
The article analyzes over 200 e-invoicing vendors across 120+ countries, revealing a highly fragmented market where most vendors specialize in a single country or compliance model. It highlights that 15+ countries have e-invoicing deadlines in 2026 and identifies five distinct compliance models worldwide, underscoring the need for multinational buyers to evaluate vendors by model coverage rather than country count.
Singapore’s GST InvoiceNow e‑invoicing mandate, effective November 2025, requires all GST‑registered businesses to transmit invoices through the national InvoiceNow network using structured XML standards such as SG Peppol BIS or PINT‑SG and to report invoice data to IRAS. The article outlines buyer and supplier responsibilities, handling of exceptions (PDF, cross‑border, inter‑company) and stresses the need for robust process controls and compliance confidence.
The UK Treasury has appealed a tax tribunal decision that ruled public electric vehicle charge points should be subject to 5% VAT. The tribunal had determined that public charge points fall within the domestic electricity supply VAT cut, but the government is contesting this. The appeal was lodged within the 56‑day deadline.
Italy's 2026 Budget Law introduces a 2% AgCom contribution on Italian‑sourced digital, media and platform revenues, effective March 2026. The levy applies to both Italian and non‑Italian entities, with per‑mille rates ranging from 0.05% to 0.2% across activity categories and a €100 de‑minimis threshold. Filing is required via AgCom's electronic portal, with penalties up to €130,000 for non‑compliance.
Poland’s parliament is reviewing a draft bill to temporarily zero‑rate domestic food items, excluding imports, from 1 April to 31 December 2026. The proposal would reduce the current 5 % VAT on a defined list of staple foods to 0 %, mirroring earlier COVID‑era cuts. Imported food would not benefit from the relief.
Today's VAT news highlights key developments in the Asia-Pacific region, including an update on Vietnam's B2B e-invoicing system and a guide to VAT exemptions for natural gas stakeholders. Meanwhile, in Europe, Iceland has responded to inflationary pressures sparked by the Iran conflict by reducing fuel VAT to 11%. These updates underscore the evolving nature of VAT policies globally, with governments adapting to economic pressures and technological advancements.
