Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

Mexico amended its Federal Revenue Law on 7 November 2025, removing insurers’ ability to recover 16% VAT on goods and services used in covered major medical treatments. The change is retroactive from 1 January 2025 and is expected to raise major medical costs by 10‑12%, potentially increasing loss ratios by 8‑12% and overall captive costs by over 20%.

British Columbia will broaden its Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to include a range of professional services from 1 October 2026, maintaining a 7% rate that, combined with the federal 5% GST, brings the total tax on most supplies to 12%. For architectural, engineering and geoscience services, PST will apply to only 30% of the purchase price. Service providers in the new scope must register for PST and prepare to charge, collect and remit the tax, with further administrative guidance to follow.

The CJEU reaffirmed that substantive VAT exemption conditions prevail over formalities, with three 2025 judgments clarifying that missing Article 45a documents, incomplete export paperwork, or absent customs steps do not automatically deny exemptions if fraud is absent. The rulings reinforce fiscal neutrality and outline narrow exceptions where formal non‑compliance can defeat an exemption.

South Africa’s Finance Minister announced that the VAT registration threshold will rise from R1 million to R2.3 million, and the turnover‑tax limit for very small businesses will also be lifted to R2.3 million. The change, first made in 2009, also removes the restriction on tax year‑end dates, easing compliance burdens for small firms. The adjustment aligns with inflation expectations and aims to encourage entrepreneurship.

South Africa will raise the mandatory VAT registration threshold from R1 million to R2.3 million and the voluntary threshold from R50 000 to R120 000, effective 1 April 2026. The annual turnover tax limit will also rise from R1 million to R2.3 million. These changes aim to adjust for inflation and support small businesses.

The UK guidance explains the special procedure for outward processing, which allows goods to be temporarily exported from the UK for repair or processing. It outlines the rules, application process, authorisation, and duty calculation for such movements, covering both the UK and EU/Northern Ireland contexts.

Switzerland is considering a 0.8 percentage‑point increase in its standard VAT rate from 8.1% to 8.9% to raise about CHF 31 billion for defence spending over ten years. The proposal, announced by the Federal Council in January 2026, would need parliamentary approval and a 2027 referendum. A separate 0.7 percentage‑point VAT rise to 8.8% for pension reforms was approved in April 2024 and is expected to take effect on 1 January 2028, pending a 2027 referendum.

Argentina’s tax authority ARCA has extended mandatory e‑invoicing to financial institutions, insurance companies and credit card providers effective 1 July 2026, introducing a monthly electronic settlement system and pre‑filled VAT returns. The General Resolution 5824/26 also plans to add prepaid health plans and educational institutions by July 2027, urging businesses to prepare early for the expanded e‑invoicing infrastructure.

Portugal’s Parliament has approved a 6% VAT rate on new residential housing construction for primary permanent residences, effective 1 January 2026. The measure applies to projects with procedural initiatives between 25 September 2025 and 31 December 2029, and includes conditions on residence duration and penalties for non‑compliance. Self‑build projects and investment contracts for lease also benefit from partial VAT refunds.

The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, ruling that the President lacked authority to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and 10% tariffs on China and other partners. The decision remanded the case and left importers without a remedy, prompting the administration to announce a new worldwide tariff under the Trade Act of 1974. Importers must seek refunds through Customs and the U.S. Court of International Trade.

Irish Revenue has clarified the implementation schedule and scope for the B2B e‑invoicing and real‑time reporting regime under the ViDA reforms. The phased rollout begins in November 2028 for large corporates, expands to all VAT‑registered businesses in intra‑EU trade by November 2029, and covers all cross‑border B2B transactions from July 2030. Large corporates must issue structured e‑invoices and report key data, while all VAT‑registered businesses must be technically capable of receiving structured e‑invoices.

The Knesset rejected Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s order to double the VAT exemption ceiling on personal imports to $150, voting 59 against and 25 in favor. The order was intended to lower the cost of living and reduce online purchase prices, but critics warned it would harm local businesses.

On 11 February 2026, the EU General Court ruled that Polish VAT deduction rules are inconsistent with EU law, allowing businesses to deduct VAT in the month the transaction occurred if the invoice is received before the filing deadline. The decision invalidates the practice of postponing deductions to the next settlement period and is binding on Polish tax authorities, potentially improving liquidity for taxpayers. The ruling may prompt amendments to national regulations.

The Israeli Knesset voted on 24 February 2026 to revoke a ministerial order that would have raised the VAT exemption threshold for online purchases from $75 to $150. The order, which had been in effect since December 24, was defeated 25–59 after Prime Minister Netanyahu allowed a free vote for coalition lawmakers. The revocation removes the exemption for imported packages valued up to $150, restoring the previous $75 threshold.

Ireland’s Revenue has clarified that large corporates managed by its Large Corporates Division will be required to adopt e‑invoicing from 1 November 2028, while financial services firms will not be in scope for Phase One but must still receive e‑invoices from that date, with full implementation starting in November 2029. The move aligns with the EU’s VAT in the Digital Age initiative and will be followed by real‑time VAT reporting.

Croatia has announced it will extend the reduced 5% VAT rate on certain energy products until March 31, 2027, to help curb inflation. The measure covers natural gas, district heating, and various wood fuels, and the extension is expected to forgo about €47 million in revenue. Without the extension, the rate would revert to 13% at the end of March 2026.

The Dutch Supreme Court (Hoge Raad) on 20 Feb 2026 reversed a lower court’s ruling and confirmed that a market‑maker can use its gross trading result to calculate the VAT deduction of mixed costs, following the analogy to foreign‑exchange transactions. The court also clarified that the fiscal group may use reasonable estimates to determine the EU/non‑EU customer ratio and can include TNMM fees and RPSM payments in the allocation key, while referring the case back for further investigation into the nature of RPSM payments.

Canada’s federal government has announced a one‑time top‑up to the GST credit, rebranded as the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which will increase payments by 25 % for five years starting in July 2026. The benefit will extend to 500,000 new families, potentially helping up to 12.6 million Canadians, but eligibility thresholds are low, excluding many low‑income households. The article argues that these tweaks are insufficient and calls for a larger increase in the basic personal amount to provide broader relief.

A preliminary ruling before the CJEU (Case T‑96/26, TellusTax Advisory) examines whether a Swedish supplier’s right to deduct input VAT can be limited because the services were provided to a Luxembourg securitisation vehicle that benefits from a fund‑management VAT exemption. The Swedish Tax Authorities denied the deduction, arguing that VAT must have been due in Luxembourg for the deduction to apply. The outcome will have implications for securitisation vehicles and the broader fund industry.

Austria will exempt menstrual hygiene products and certain contraceptives from VAT from 1 January 2026, replacing a 10 % reduced rate. The Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) is empowered to ensure the tax savings are passed on to consumers and can launch sector investigations if prices do not reflect the relief. This marks a novel use of competition law to safeguard the effectiveness of a gender‑focused social policy.