VAT & Indirect Tax Intelligence
VAT news digest
Curated from global sources. Twice-weekly digest, free.
France's e-invoicing reform, effective 1 September 2026, requires all businesses with a French VAT footprint to use approved platforms for issuing and receiving electronic invoices and for transmitting transaction and payment data. The reform mandates structured invoice formats (UBL, CII, Factur-X) following EN 16931 with French extensions and adds four mandatory fields. SMEs and micro-enterprises will join the issuance and reporting obligations on 1 September 2027, while large enterprises must comply from 1 September 2026.
Today's VAT news highlights key challenges and opportunities for businesses globally, with a focus on common GST filing errors in Singapore and calls for VAT reform in the European hospitality sector. Meanwhile, international organizations such as the IMF are urging countries like Pakistan to adjust their GST rates to meet economic goals. These developments underscore the need for businesses to stay informed about evolving VAT regulations and requirements in various regions.
In today's VAT news, European countries are implementing changes to value-added tax regulations, including a VAT cut on children's meals aimed at reducing costs for families. Meanwhile, Germany is introducing stricter VAT group rules to enhance compliance and prevent abuse. Additionally, Spain has released a technical update for its B2B Crea y Crece e-invoice e-reporting system, further streamlining electronic invoicing processes.
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The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that a transfer pricing adjustment does not automatically trigger VAT unless a direct link exists between an identifiable supply and the payment received. The decision underscores the need for companies to assess each adjustment case‑by‑case, draft clear intragroup agreements, and maintain robust documentation to secure the intended VAT treatment.
Ukraine's tax authorities have issued guidance clarifying that SaaS, software licences, and digital content are treated as services for VAT purposes. Non‑resident providers and marketplaces must register for VAT in Ukraine from 1 January 2022, with a UAH 1 million threshold, and file simplified quarterly returns within 40 days of each quarter. The standard VAT rate is 20%, and VAT due can be paid in USD or Euro if opted at registration.
Continuous Transaction Controls (CTCs) are shifting VAT review from post‑return to real‑time monitoring, driven by e‑invoicing and e‑reporting mandates across the EU. The EU requires intra‑community transactions to be e‑reported within 10 days, while Spain and Poland have tighter deadlines of 4 days and live e‑invoicing to KSeF, respectively. VATCalc offers a single tax engine that integrates VAT determination, e‑invoicing, e‑reporting and return preparation for 30+ countries.
Botswana will enforce VAT collection on non‑resident digital services from 1 June 2026. The 14 % rate applies to B2C supplies, while B2B services are subject to reverse charge. Non‑resident providers must register if turnover exceeds BWP 500,000 and appoint a local agent, filing quarterly returns.
Bulgaria's National Assembly has submitted a draft bill proposing a 0% VAT rate on essential food and beverage items in the country's small consumer basket. The proposal, submitted on 18 May 2026, would apply to staples such as bread, milk, dairy, basic meats and poultry. If approved, businesses would need to adjust VAT logic, invoicing and reporting systems to reflect the zero‑rated treatment.
The Supreme Court has upheld a 28% GST on online gaming, applying it retrospectively to curb unregulated wagering. The ruling targets real‑money games and aims to aid investigations into money laundering. The decision marks a significant shift in India's approach to digital gambling.
The German Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) issued revised template forms for VAT reverse‑charge and registration purposes effective 9–23 April 2026. The updates remove the service‑seal field and the phrase “This letter was machine‑generated and is valid without signature,” and set a maximum validity of three years for the certificates. Forms USt 1 TH, USt 1 TG and USt 1 TQ can be issued on application or by authority; USt 1 TS and USt 1 TN only on application.
Ukraine’s parliament has exempted the supply of ground‑based unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to the Defense Forces from VAT. The exemption, enacted via Bill No. 15259, aims to accelerate delivery of logistics and medical evacuation equipment. The law takes effect from 28 May 2026.
Italy has amended its 2026 barter VAT rules, replacing the cost‑based valuation model with a contractual value approach. The change, effective 1 January 2026, requires the taxable amount to reflect the parties’ agreed monetary value but not fall below the supplier’s direct costs, and applies retroactively to contracts from that date while protecting earlier invoices.
The Isle of Man will lower VAT on children’s meals and family entertainment tickets from 20% to 5% between 25 June and 1 September 2026, easing costs for families. The change also applies to cinema, theatre, show tickets and attraction admissions. Additionally, red diesel duty will be cut from 10.18p to 6.48p per litre from 15 June 2026.
Germany's Federal Ministry of Finance has issued a new guidance letter effective 1 April 2026 that narrows the scope of intra‑group VAT exemptions for Organschaft. The update expands situations where intra‑group transactions may trigger VAT, particularly for supplies linked to non‑economic activities, and allows taxpayers to use the old approach until 31 December 2026. Businesses must reassess charging models, input VAT recovery and ERP logic for German VAT groups.
Spain's tax authority AEAT has outlined technical details for the upcoming Crea y Crece B2B e‑invoicing rollout, including a hybrid 5‑corner architecture and multi‑layer validation requirements. The order will enter force in October 2026, with the public platform live in August 2027 and mandatory e‑invoicing for high‑turnover firms from October 2027, expanding to all businesses by October 2028. Payment status reporting will extend to smaller entities in October 2029.
Ireland is set to introduce a comprehensive e‑invoicing mandate in phases, with B2B reception mandatory from November 2028 and full ViDA compliance by July 2030. The mandate will rely on the Peppol network, using Peppol BIS 3.0 for B2B and Peppol BIS/PINT‑EU 4.0 for cross‑border e‑reporting. Revenue will issue detailed guidance ahead of each phase.
