VAT & Indirect Tax Intelligence
VAT news digest
Curated from global sources. Twice-weekly digest, free.
Vietnam's new Circular No. 84/2026/TT-BTC, effective 1 July 2026, introduces an electronic VAT refund system for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese, requiring sellers to enter invoices electronically and comply with customs and tax authority integration.
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
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.
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Norway will require importers to lodge customs declarations before goods reach the border, with full enforcement from 1 March 2027. Digitoll's Phase one goes live on 15 September 2026, mandating digital compliance, while customs warehouses will also need pre-entry declarations from 1 March 2027.
Guinea has introduced a digital services tax of 3% for foreign digital service providers, effective from 21 May 2026, with a 12-month transitional rate. After the transitional period, rates will vary between 1.5% and 7% depending on the type of service, and non-resident providers must appoint a local tax agent within 90 days.
Thailand's Cabinet approval of the OECD-led Global Minimum Tax exchange signals a shift toward mandatory e-invoicing. The move will require businesses to adopt the ETDA Standard 3-2560 XML schema and meet a 15-day transmission rule. The policy also offers a 200% double-tax deduction and a 1% electronic withholding tax rate until December 2027.
France's B2B e-invoicing mandate will see new technical specifications released by AFNOR, with the first mandatory phase starting 1 September 2026. The documentation expands on business use cases, invoice data flows, third-party relationships, and ecosystem interactions to guide businesses, software vendors and ASPs.
EU: ViDA, the Council Directive (EU) 2025/516, will harmonise digital reporting for B2B transactions from 1 July 2030, affecting national reporting systems. Existing real-time reporting systems in force before 1 January 2024 may transition by 2035, while new systems introduced after that date must comply by 1 July 2030. Member states retain limited authority for B2C reporting and other non-harmonised obligations.
Ireland will reintroduce a 9% VAT rate for food businesses, catering services and hairdressers from 1 July 2026. The reduced rate does not apply to hotel accommodation, but does apply to food and catering provided by hotels.
Brazil: From 1 August 2026, electronic fiscal documents must carry CBS and IBS tax information, requiring updates to layouts, validation rules, ERP logic and reporting. The update also moves towards national NFS-e standardisation, reducing municipal fragmentation for service invoices.
Poland: Invoices issued and received outside the Krajowy System e-Faktur (KSeF) still allow VAT deduction for VAT-registered taxpayers. The obligation to issue structured invoices via KSeF began on 1 February 2026, expanded to additional groups on 1 April 2026, and will apply to all VAT taxpayers from 1 January 2027.
Philippines: The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the VAT refund law for foreign tourists, confirming that the incentive is a valid policy measure to promote tourism. The law allows non-resident foreign tourists to claim VAT refunds on purchases of at least P3,000 per transaction from accredited retailers, provided the goods are taken out of the Philippines within 60 days of purchase.
Philippines' VAT refund rules have evolved significantly since 1987, with recent changes under the Create More Act affecting zero-rated taxpayers. The Supreme Court clarified processing periods and documentation requirements in December 2025, tightening the 90+30 day rule.
France: The Administrative Court of Appeal of Paris has ruled that input VAT cannot be deducted for pre-incorporation acquisitions unless the transaction is clearly linked to the future company. The decision underscores the need for consistent documentation and evidence that the purchase was made on behalf of the company before incorporation.
Philippines Supreme Court upholds constitutionality of VAT refund law for foreign tourists, confirming the policy as a valid tourism incentive.
Philippines Supreme Court declares VAT refund for foreign tourists constitutional, upholding Republic Act No. 12079. The decision affirms the state’s right to offer fiscal incentives to boost tourism without violating equal protection.
