VAT & Indirect Tax Intelligence
VAT news digest
Curated from global sources. Twice-weekly digest, free.
HMRC’s Notice 700 has been updated to clarify VAT treatment of mobile phone contracts and packages. The key change is that no input tax can be recovered when an employee holds a contract in their own name. The guidance also confirms recoverability rules for business‑only mobile and broadband services, and outlines apportionment requirements for private use.
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.
Today's VAT news highlights significant developments in e-invoicing regulations across the globe, with Spain and the United Kingdom making strides in implementing mandatory e-invoicing systems. Meanwhile, in other regions, the UAE is pushing forward with its e-invoice plans, while the government in a key APAC nation has withdrawn a proposed VAT package for small businesses. These updates underscore the evolving landscape of tax compliance and digital invoicing requirements for businesses worldwide.
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The article explains that while GST was designed to eliminate cascading tax and enable seamless input tax credit (ITC), the reality has become a compliance-driven process. ITC eligibility now hinges on invoice matching, GSTR‑2B reconciliation, Rule 36(4), Section 16(2)(aa) restrictions, and the Invoice Management System (IMS), making credit availability conditional on supplier filings and compliance data. Businesses face working‑capital pressure and litigation due to delayed or denied ITC.
This guide explains the UK VAT invoice requirements for 2026, detailing the 14 mandatory fields for full invoices, the simplified format for supplies up to £250, and the 30‑day issuance deadline. It also covers retention rules, the £250 threshold, and how invoice rules change for cross‑border sales to the EU, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
This guide explains how marketplace facilitator laws in the US, UK, and EU affect sellers on Amazon, Etsy, and eBay. It details the thresholds and dates for state‑level facilitator duties, the role of platforms in collecting and remitting sales tax, and the need for sellers to maintain separate permits for other sales channels. Key dates include Utah's July 1, 2025 change, Illinois' January 1, 2026 shift, and Alaska's January 1, 2025 simplification.
The article explains that for services, GST becomes payable immediately upon receipt of an advance, while for goods, advance receipts are exempt under Notification No. 66/2017-Central Tax and GST is due only when goods are supplied. It also details the required receipt and refund vouchers and how to calculate GST on inclusive and exclusive advances.
From 1 July 2026 the EU will eliminate the €150 de‑minimis customs exemption and impose a flat €3 duty on low‑value imports, applied per HS tariff code even when the Import One‑Stop Shop (IOSS) is used. France will add a €2 handling fee per tariff classification on top of the EU duty. The €3 duty is a temporary measure that will be removed in 2028 when the EU Customs Data Hub regime takes effect.
This guide explains Vermont’s sales and use tax regime, including the 6% statewide rate plus up to 1% local option, economic nexus thresholds of $100,000 sales or 200 transactions, filing frequency rules based on liability, and registration via the myVTax portal. It also details taxable goods and services, exemptions, and filing methods.
The European Commission’s ViDA programme introduces a Single VAT Registration (SVR) framework that will take effect on 1 January 2027, with major structural changes scheduled for 1 July 2028. The reforms extend the One‑Stop Shop (OSS) to additional transactions, simplify own‑goods reporting, and introduce a secure IOSS pilot to curb fraud in low‑value imports. Key technical updates include new functional specifications, explanatory notes, and a real‑time verification system for IOSS numbers.
The European Commission announced that the customs duty exemption for low‑value consignments valued below €150 will cease on 1 July 2026. The de‑minimis regime that previously exempted these parcels is being replaced, while a temporary flat fee on low‑value imports remains in force until 1 July 2028.
France is implementing a new continuous transaction control (CTC) model that requires all businesses to use registered Plateformes Agréées (PAs) and the Public Billing Portal (PPF) for domestic B2B e‑invoicing, e‑reporting, and payment reporting. The mandatory rollout begins in September 2026 for e‑invoicing and e‑reporting, with payment reporting added in September 2027. ERP systems must be updated to handle new invoice lifecycle statuses (F1, F2/F3, F6, F10) and master‑data requirements before these deadlines.
Spain's tax agency has released the first full technical specifications for its public e‑invoicing platform, SPFE, making the e‑invoicing mandate concrete. The rules require all invoices to be UBL format, EN 16931 2026 version, and impose strict deadlines for e‑invoicing and payment reporting across different turnover thresholds. Private platforms must also retrieve invoices, provide them to clients immediately, and hold a registered power of attorney for each client.
UK confirms Peppol as the core interoperability network for e‑invoicing, with a mandatory e‑invoicing requirement for all VAT invoices set to take effect in 2029. The policy paper "Tax Update 2026" announced Peppol as the core network, and NHS Supply Chain suppliers already use Peppol. Stakeholders can now plan system readiness ahead of the 2029 mandate.
Bangladesh’s government has withdrawn its proposal to introduce a fixed‑rate VAT for small businesses and to make VAT registration mandatory for all retail businesses from July 1. The decision also drops proposed tax hikes in the tobacco sector, while retaining a 35% supplementary duty on imported nicotine pouches. The withdrawal was enacted before the Finance Bill was passed on 29 June 2026.
The UAE will roll out a mandatory B2B Peppol e-invoicing regime starting in 2027, with phased waves based on turnover thresholds and a 4‑corner model for connectivity. Large businesses must appoint an Accredited Service Provider by 30 Oct 2026, and the Ministry of Finance has issued v1.1 e‑invoicing guidelines and technical specifications, including the PINT AE format. The system will also support e‑reporting and a decentralized CTC and Exchange Model for B2G and intra‑group transactions.
