VAT & Indirect Tax Intelligence
VAT news digest
Curated from global sources. Twice-weekly digest, free.
France's Tax Agency updated its administrative doctrine on 8 July 2026, clarifying VAT treatment for goods sales, lease-purchase options and related transactions. The guidance confirms VAT applies to transfers of tangible goods where the purchaser obtains owner-like disposal rights, treats hire-purchase arrangements and retention-of-title sales as supplies of goods, and classifies LPOs for tangible property as taxable services until the purchase option is exercised.
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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The EU imposes VAT on SaaS and software sales, applying a customer-location rule for both B2B and B2C transactions. SaaS sellers must collect VAT IDs, validate them via VIES, and apply the reverse charge for B2B sales to VAT-registered buyers.
EU VAT compliance for U.S. sellers is complex, with new changes effective 1 July 2026. The EU removed the €150 de minimis exemption, so customs duties now apply to all imports, including those under €150. U.S. sellers must use the Import One Stop Shop to collect VAT at checkout for orders under €150.
UK: HMRC is consulting on expanding deemed supplier rules for online marketplaces to include UK-based vendors, aiming to curb VAT fraud. The consultation will run until 18 August 2026, and stakeholders are invited to submit views.
Indonesia will bear VAT on domestic economy-class airline tickets during the 2026 school holiday period, as per Minister of Finance Regulation No. 43 of 2026. The incentive covers tickets purchased from 22 June to 5 July 2026 and flights operated between 24 June and 5 July, with airlines required to issue VAT invoices and submit a detailed electronic list by 30 September 2026.
Denmark plans to reduce the VAT on books from 25% to 0% effective 2027, following EU VAT Freedoms reforms. The change is part of a strategy to boost reading rates and will be introduced in the 2026 budget bill.
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.
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.
