Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

The Canada Revenue Agency has reversed its long‑standing position, declaring that trailing commissions paid by fund managers to dealers are taxable under GST/HST, effective July 1. Dealers and advisors may need to register for GST/HST if their taxable revenues exceed $30,000 over four consecutive quarters, and will have to adjust accounting systems to collect and remit the tax. The CRA will publish a formal technical interpretation in the coming weeks, clarifying the taxable status of trailing commissions and confirming that upfront commissions remain exempt.

The Czech Tax Agency clarified its VAT rules for real estate effective July 1, 2025. The guidance redefines key concepts, expands exemptions for completed immovable property, introduces a new substantial‑change definition requiring costs above 30% of the tax base, and adds new classifications for residential and social housing. These changes align Czech VAT with EU case law and modify when and how VAT is applied to real‑estate transactions.

The Danish National Tax Court confirmed that extraordinary VAT reassessment is permissible when gross negligence is proven. In a case involving a Danish airline, the court upheld the tax authorities’ findings that the company used incorrect input VAT deduction percentages, failed mandatory year‑end adjustments, and understated its liability. The decision clarifies that repeated errors and prohibited energy‑tax deductions justify extraordinary reassessment.

The article outlines e-invoicing considerations for businesses operating in Luxembourg and across the EU. It highlights the regulatory landscape and compliance requirements that companies need to address when implementing electronic invoicing solutions.

The ViDA directive amends Article 217 of the EU VAT Directive, requiring electronic invoices to be issued, transmitted, and received in structured formats such as XML, EDI, or Factur‑X. Effective 31 December 2030, the directive also removes the need for recipient acceptance and will trigger automatic pre‑filling of tax data, creating a velocity mismatch for businesses that still park invoices. Companies must transition to structured formats and reconcile pre‑filled data with their own books to avoid audit issues.

China’s State Taxation Administration announced new mandatory VAT registration rules effective 1 January 2026, requiring businesses with annual taxable sales above RMB 5 million to register as general VAT taxpayers. The announcement introduces retroactive compliance, mandatory registration for specific sectors, and automatic reclassification for late registrants, increasing compliance risk for businesses near the threshold.

The European Commission’s ViDA strategy outlines a phased reform of VAT systems across the EU, introducing real‑time digital reporting, mandatory e‑invoicing, and platform‑economy rules. Key milestones include legislative clarifications (2025‑2027), platform rules for accommodation and transport (2028), mandatory e‑invoicing for intra‑EU B2B (2030), and full harmonisation of digital reporting (2035). The reforms aim to save businesses €51 billion and reduce fraud by up to €11 billion annually.