VAT & Indirect Tax Intelligence
VAT news digest
Curated from global sources. Twice-weekly digest, free.
The UK Court of Appeal on 12 June 2026 ruled that Bolt cannot use the Tour Operators Margin Scheme (TOMS) and must charge full 20% VAT on the entire fare. This reverses earlier tribunal decisions that had allowed Bolt to apply TOMS. The ruling has implications for other ride‑sharing operators such as Uber.
Today's VAT news highlights key developments in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, including updated regulations on VAT for food supplements and VAT group members in the EU. Additionally, changes to VAT refunds and e-invoicing systems are being implemented in various regions, such as the UAE and France. These developments have significant implications for businesses and individuals, with potential impacts on costs and compliance requirements.
Today's VAT news is dominated by significant developments in Europe, including a key court ruling on fixed establishments and updates on mandatory online registration for tax advisors. Additionally, various countries are introducing VAT reforms, such as temporary reduced rates for certain goods and services, and broader tax system overhauls. These changes are also being examined in the context of the latest research findings, including the Billentis 2026 Key Report.
The VATfaqs digest
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This FAQ explains the differences between Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) and Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) for cross‑border merchants, outlining who pays duties, the impact on customer experience, and the technical requirements for each option. It highlights that DDP offers cost certainty and faster customs clearance, while DDU can lead to refused deliveries and additional costs. The guide also details FlavorCloud’s guaranteed DDP service, which locks landed cost at checkout, and the prerequisites for product eligibility such as HS codes, country of origin, and weight.
The Netherlands has made the Digital Dossier system mandatory for all customs declarations effective 16 May 2026. Paper‑based and email submissions are no longer accepted; businesses must ensure their systems are fully aligned and integrated with the Dutch Customs DMS. The change aims to streamline customs processing and reduce manual handling.
The General Court’s judgment in case T‑444/25, delivered on 10 June 2026, clarifies that within a VAT group, exemption eligibility under Article 132(1)(b) and (g) of the VAT Directive must be met by the specific entity supplying the service, not by the group as a whole. The ruling confirms that a VAT group cannot automatically extend healthcare or social‑welfare exemptions to non‑recognised members. The decision, based on a Dutch VAT group, applies across the EU and requires careful review of group structures for exempt activities.
The UK Government will temporarily reduce VAT on children’s meals and outings to 5% from 25 June 2026 to 1 September 2026, cutting the standard rate of 20%. The scheme covers children’s menu meals in restaurants, tickets for theatres, cinemas, soft play, adventure centres and theme parks. Businesses should review the GOV.UK guidance for eligibility and compliance.
Bangladesh’s government has proposed a comprehensive VAT exemption package for startups, content creators and freelancers in the 2026‑27 national budget. The package includes a 15% VAT exemption on services provided by freelancers and content creators, full local VAT exemption for startups, and 15% VAT exemption on imported services and office rentals, with the measures set to remain in force until 30 June 2035.
The article explains how contract and toll manufacturing arrangements are treated under EU VAT law, highlighting the importance of economic reality in determining whether the supply is of goods or services. It outlines the reverse charge mechanism for toll manufacturing, the French four-part test, and the risk of creating a Fixed Establishment that triggers local VAT registration and reporting obligations.
The article explains how VAT on food supplements varies across EU member states, highlighting Germany’s split between solid (7%) and liquid (19%) rates and Sweden’s temporary 6% rate until 2027. It stresses the importance of correct Combined Nomenclature classification to apply the right rate and warns that misclassification can trigger back payments and fines.
An EU court has ruled that grouped companies, even when treated as a single entity for VAT payments, must be considered separately when determining eligibility for certain VAT exemptions. The decision clarifies that VAT group members cannot rely on a collective status to claim exemptions, affecting how VAT groups assess exemption eligibility across the EU.
Kenya’s Finance Bill 2026 proposes a VAT exemption for certain mobile phones, cutting the effective tax burden on imported devices from about 55% to 50%. The exemption would give imported phones a price advantage while local assemblers would lose the ability to recover VAT on inputs, raising their production costs and potentially making Kenyan‑assembled phones more expensive.
The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has announced a new initiative that broadens the range of construction costs eligible for VAT refunds for UAE nationals building new homes. Effective 1 January 2026, citizens can claim refunds on a variety of items—including staff quarters, home gyms, smart security systems, and complete reconstruction projects—provided they meet all conditions and documentation requirements. The digital VAT refund platform has been updated to reflect these new categories.
France has launched a 2026 e‑invoicing pilot that runs from February to August, allowing businesses to test real invoice exchanges on the French Public Invoicing Portal. The pilot precedes the mandatory e‑invoicing regime that will take effect on 1 September 2026. Storecove will enable clients to join the pilot from mid‑June via its French API and the national Annuaire directory.
Slovakia is advancing its mandatory e‑invoicing rollout, with the new system set to take effect on 1 January 2027. A draft amendment to the VAT Act introduces transitional relief, exempting domestic buyers from digital reporting of received invoices until 1 July 2030. The government also opened voluntary participation to entrepreneurs and is developing a certified digital postman framework.
The article provides a detailed checklist for UK VAT‑registered businesses to comply with the Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme, outlining digital record‑keeping, API submission, exemption criteria, and the penalty regime. It also highlights upcoming MTD requirements for Income Tax and offers guidance on software selection and consolidation.
