Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

HMRC’s Brief 9 confirms that supplies of locum doctors are exempt from VAT under Item 5, Group 7, Schedule 9 of the VAT Act 1994. The guidance also explains how businesses can claim refunds for over‑declared output tax on such supplies made within the last four years, and notes that HMRC is reviewing policy and will issue updated guidance in due course.

The article examines the European Court of Justice ruling on loyalty programme vouchers, noting that while some advisers praised the court’s definition of a voucher for VAT purposes, a UK partner highlighted unanswered questions. It offers expert commentary on the implications for VAT compliance in the EU and the UK.

HMRC has released guidance (GfC18) to help businesses in the oil and gas sector determine the VAT place of supply for services. The document outlines special place of supply rules, general rules, fixed establishment rules and other factors that may affect VAT treatment. It is intended to reduce the risk of errors and penalties.

Argentina has reduced the VAT on electricity used in agro‑industrial irrigation systems to 10.5% effective 1 April 2026, cutting the standard 21% rate in half. The measure, part of the Labour Modernisation Law, targets energy consumption linked to irrigation to lower input costs for farmers and support export competitiveness.

From 20 March 2026, Cambodia will reduce the VAT rate on gasoline and diesel from 10% to 4%, with the government absorbing the remaining 6% to subsidise fuel consumption. The temporary measure applies to both B2B and B2C sales and requires updates to invoicing and e‑filing systems. The change is part of a broader effort to manage energy‑driven inflation without altering the overall VAT framework.

This webinar discusses how Booking.com scaled its e‑invoicing compliance across multiple European markets by centralizing tax data and partnering with Fonoa. The presentation highlights the shift from a country‑by‑country approach to a unified strategy, the cross‑functional collaboration required, and practical guidance on vendor selection and implementation planning.

Spain's Council of Ministers approved a Royal Decree mandating B2B e‑invoicing for all businesses and professionals. The phased rollout begins with the Treasury ministerial order, expected before 1 July 2026, with compliance deadlines of 12 months for firms over €8 million and 24 months for others. Structured electronic invoices in FacturaE, UBL or CII formats must be used, and non‑compliance can trigger fines up to €10 000 per infraction.

KPMG releases its latest installment of the Taxation of the Digitalized Economy series, summarising VAT and indirect tax updates that affect digital platforms and cross‑border services. The update covers new VAT responsibilities in Chile, Significant Economic Presence rules in Côte d’Ivoire, DAC8 crypto and platform reporting progress in the EU, and emerging VAT measures for digital services in Jamaica, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Sweden, Mexico and Poland. These developments are relevant for businesses relying on digital business models, platforms and data‑driven services.

Governments worldwide are banning PDF invoices in favor of structured e-invoicing formats, with Belgium mandating Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 from 1 January 2026 and the EU’s ViDA regulation requiring structured invoices for all intra‑EU B2B transactions by July 2030. France, Germany, Poland, and India also have specific structured‑invoice mandates, creating a global shift toward machine‑readable data. The article explains the legal, operational, and cost implications of this transition for finance teams.

Basware’s latest blog post outlines ten key performance indicators that distinguish high‑performing organizations in e‑invoicing compliance. The research, based on responses from 400 finance, tax, IT, and compliance leaders, highlights challenges such as limited visibility into evolving mandates and reliance on spreadsheets, and offers practical steps for building a strategic compliance capability.

The Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has announced that transactions involving indigenous natural gas are exempt from value-added tax (VAT). This decision applies to all such transactions and is intended to support indigenous communities.

Fintua’s blog post outlines how digital platforms and marketplaces must shift to real‑time VAT compliance, driven by EU directives DAC7 and ViDA. It highlights the need for continuous transaction controls, platform liability to collect and remit VAT, and the challenges of reconciling data across jurisdictions such as Mexico and South Korea. The article stresses embedding compliance into systems and cross‑functional collaboration to meet evolving regulatory demands.

The Philippines has advanced the implementation of VAT exemptions for indigenous natural gas, electricity generated from it, and related ancillary services. The exemptions, part of Republic Act No. 12120, will take effect early April 2026 and require certification from the Department of Energy and validation by the Oil and Electric Power Industry Management Bureaus.

The article explains how the place of supply rules for travel services differ from standard B2B and B2C rules, highlighting key exceptions such as accommodation, transport, restaurants and event admission. It details how the Tour Operators Margin Scheme (TOMS) shifts the place of supply to the supplier’s location, offering potential VAT savings for UK and non‑UK businesses. Practical examples illustrate how different scenarios can change whether UK VAT is due.

Italy became the first EU country to mandate electronic invoicing for all VAT‑registered businesses in 2019, expanding the requirement to micro‑businesses in 2024 and introducing FatturaPA v1.9 in 2025. The SDI clearance model has reduced the VAT gap and serves as a benchmark for the EU’s ViDA framework. The current EU derogation expires at the end of 2027, while the consolidated VAT code will take effect on 1 January 2027.

The French e-reporting framework complements e-invoicing by capturing B2C, cross-border B2B and certain payment transactions through Flow 10 (F10). Flow 6 (F6) confirms acceptance or rejection of the reporting file. Reporting frequency and deadlines vary by VAT regime, with standard monthly taxpayers submitting transaction data three times a month and payment data once, all due 10 days after each period.

Germany’s KoSIT confirms progress on XRechnung 4.0, aligning with the forthcoming EN 16931‑1:2026 standard. The article outlines key milestones: the EN 16931 release in March 2026, XRechnung 4.0 specification in the second half of 2026, mandatory electronic invoicing for all German businesses by 2028, and national and intra‑community VAT reporting from July 2030.

This article provides a comprehensive, region‑by‑region overview of e‑invoicing requirements, detailing mandatory formats, transmission protocols, and deadlines for each country. It highlights key national mandates such as Italy’s FatturaPA, France’s Factur‑X, Germany’s XRechnung, and India’s JSON‑based IRP system, offering a practical guide for businesses operating across borders.

Poland has made e‑invoicing mandatory for all VAT‑registered businesses through its KSeF platform, effective February 2026 for large taxpayers and April 2026 for SMEs and foreign entities. The new system integrates with the existing JPK SAF‑T reporting framework, requiring KSeF identification numbers in VAT returns and imposing penalties for non‑compliance. The rollout also mandates KSeF IDs in bank transfers from August 2026 and extends to micro‑entrepreneurs from January 2027.

The Fintua blog post discusses OECD's latest updates on indirect tax, highlighting the shift toward real‑time, data‑driven administration, e‑invoicing, and digital reporting across jurisdictions. It covers the rollout of e‑invoicing and B2C digital services in EU countries, the UAE's expansion to non‑resident entities, and the development of the DCTR toolkit. The article emphasizes collaboration between businesses and tax authorities and the role of AI in tax compliance.