VAT & Indirect Tax Intelligence
VAT news digest
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The United Arab Emirates has designated Comarch as an Accredited Service Provider for its upcoming e-invoicing mandate. The company will act as a Trust Anchor, managing secure data transmission and real-time clearance for businesses. The January 2027 deadline and penalty of AED 5,000 for non-appointment underscore the urgency.
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 Court of Justice has ruled that a person liable for VAT in one member state cannot also be held jointly and severally liable for VAT owed by an entity established in another member state. This decision clarifies cross-border VAT liability rules within the EU. The ruling applies to Greek cases and other EU member states.
South Africa's VAT framework for electronic services now has a new registration threshold for non-resident providers, effective from 1 April 2026. The threshold rises to ZAR 2.3 million on a 12-month basis, with a voluntary threshold of ZAR 120 000, and non-resident providers must register by the end of any month where supplies exceed the threshold.
Canada's Tax Court clarified on 26 June 2026 that the GST/HST new housing rebate requires a clear intention to use a property as a primary residence. The decision, issued as Decision No. 2026 TCC 122, applied to an individual who purchased two condominium units and claimed the rebate.
Vietnam's new Circular No. 84/2026/TT-BTC, effective 1 July 2026, introduces an electronic VAT refund system for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese, requiring sellers to enter invoices electronically and comply with customs and tax authority integration.
Norway will require importers to lodge customs declarations before goods reach the border, with full enforcement from 1 March 2027. Digitoll's Phase one goes live on 15 September 2026, mandating digital compliance, while customs warehouses will also need pre-entry declarations from 1 March 2027.
The UK HMRC announces simplification of the Capital Goods Scheme effective 29 July 2026. Computers and computer equipment will be excluded and the expenditure threshold for land, buildings and civil engineering work rises to £600,000.
UAE businesses must prepare for mandatory electronic invoicing, with the UAE Ministry of Finance recognising VAT IT as a pre-approved service provider. Companies with annual revenue above AED 50 million must appoint an accredited service provider by 30 October 2026 and be fully compliant by 1 January 2027, while those with revenue of AED 50 million or less must appoint by 31 March 2027 and comply by 1 July 2027.
New Zealand: The government plans to mandate e-invoicing for large businesses supplying government agencies from 1 January 2027, aiming to cut costs and improve cash flow. The initiative is expected to generate up to NZ$800 million in annual savings by streamlining invoice processing and reducing administrative work.
The UK Upper Tribunal ruled that dental aligners are not exempt from VAT under the dental prostheses provision. The decision reverses a lower tribunal ruling and means dental practices must charge VAT on aligners.
Guinea has introduced a digital services tax of 3% for foreign digital service providers, effective from 21 May 2026, with a 12-month transitional rate. After the transitional period, rates will vary between 1.5% and 7% depending on the type of service, and non-resident providers must appoint a local tax agent within 90 days.
Thailand's Cabinet approval of the OECD-led Global Minimum Tax exchange signals a shift toward mandatory e-invoicing. The move will require businesses to adopt the ETDA Standard 3-2560 XML schema and meet a 15-day transmission rule. The policy also offers a 200% double-tax deduction and a 1% electronic withholding tax rate until December 2027.
France's B2B e-invoicing mandate will see new technical specifications released by AFNOR, with the first mandatory phase starting 1 September 2026. The documentation expands on business use cases, invoice data flows, third-party relationships, and ecosystem interactions to guide businesses, software vendors and ASPs.
EU: ViDA, the Council Directive (EU) 2025/516, will harmonise digital reporting for B2B transactions from 1 July 2030, affecting national reporting systems. Existing real-time reporting systems in force before 1 January 2024 may transition by 2035, while new systems introduced after that date must comply by 1 July 2030. Member states retain limited authority for B2C reporting and other non-harmonised obligations.
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.
