China’s Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration announced a phased rollback of the 13% export VAT rebate for lithium‑ion batteries, cutting it to 6% on April 1 2026 and abolishing it by January 1 2027. The move has spurred a sharp rise in lithium prices and a front‑loading of exports, reshaping the global battery supply chain and leveling the playing field for non‑Chinese manufacturers.

The Isle of Man Gazette published the VAT (Repayment Interest) Order 2025, amending the VAT Act 1996. The order clarifies that no repayment interest will be charged on VAT refunds issued within 30 days from the later of the return filing, claim submission, or assessment notification. The order took effect on 6 November 2025.

Turkey’s Presidential Decree No. 10813, published 7 January 2026, abolishes simplified customs declarations for B2C e‑commerce shipments, effective 6 February 2026. All shipments, even those valued at €30 or less, must now use regular customs procedures, with specific exceptions for medicines and food supplements under prescription. The decree also imposes fixed customs duties of 30% for EU and 60% for non‑EU shipments for certain products and adds a 20% Special Consumption Tax where applicable.

China’s Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation announced that the VAT export tax rebate for photovoltaic (PV) and other products will be cancelled from April 2024. The rebate for battery products will be reduced from 9% to 6% from April 2024 until the end of 2026, after which it will be fully cancelled in 2025. The move aims to rationalise overseas prices, reduce trade friction and ease the national financial burden.

The China State Council adopted a new VAT Implementing Regulation on 19 December 2025, which came into force on 1 January 2026. The regulation, comprising 54 articles across six chapters, provides detailed enforcement procedures and clarifications on taxable goods, services, intangible assets, taxable persons, VAT rates, zero‑rated and exempt supplies, tax calculation, and cross‑border collection responsibilities, complementing the updated VAT law enacted in December 2024.

China will abolish VAT export rebates for photovoltaic products from 1 April 2026 and phase out battery rebates by 1 January 2027. The policy aims to curb aggressive price discounting and reduce trade friction risks. Consumption tax rebates for these products will remain unchanged.

Turkiye’s Presidential Decree No. 10813, published 7 January 2026, abolishes simplified customs declarations for B2C e‑commerce shipments valued at €30 or less, effective 6 February 2026. All such imports must now use regular customs procedures, and products up to €1500 that are not of commercial quantity require full duty declaration and necessary permits. Medicines and food supplements under prescription up to €1500 remain exempt from the €30 limit but are subject to fixed duty rates and potential special consumption tax.

Bulgaria has amended its VAT Act to require foreign EU suppliers to register for Bulgarian VAT and charge local VAT on supply and install contracts, effective 1 January 2026. The change replaces the previous reverse‑charge mechanism, aligning with the EU place‑of‑supply rule. Bulgarian customers will receive VAT‑charged invoices, and suppliers must update contracts and invoicing systems accordingly.

France will terminate the one‑off fiscal representation route for Customs Procedure 42 on 1 January 2026, requiring non‑EU sellers to register for French VAT in their own name and file ongoing returns. The change removes the simplified “France‑as‑gateway” model and forces operators to adopt a formal French VAT footprint or reroute through other EU members.

Belgium’s federal government has raised the VAT rate on prepared meals from 6% to 12%, impacting school meals and home care for the elderly. The new rate applies to meals that must be eaten within two days, while frozen pizzas in supermarkets remain at 6%. The measure has sparked controversy and may increase costs for parents and the elderly.

Burkina Faso has officially launched a certified electronic invoicing platform, replacing its 2017 normalised invoicing regime. The system will become mandatory for affected taxpayers from 1 July 2026 after a short transition period, enabling real‑time transmission of invoice data to the tax authority.

The Polish Ministry of Finance introduced a new regulation effective 1 January 2026 that changes how purchases are recorded in the tax books. If goods are delivered before the invoice is received, a detailed description must be prepared, but the entry is made on the invoice issue date, not the description date. Guidance is available in the Eureka system under reference numbers 670629 and 671795.

China will eliminate VAT export rebates for photovoltaic products from April 1, 2026, and will reduce battery export rebates from 9% to 6% between April 1 and December 31, 2026, before fully phasing them out on January 1, 2027. The policy covers a wide range of solar and battery products, including monocrystalline silicon wafers, lithium‑ion batteries, and all‑vanadium redox flow batteries. This marks a significant shift in China’s export incentive regime, potentially increasing export costs for manufacturers.

Under new UK legislation, businesses will no longer pay VAT on goods donated to charity, effective 1 April 2026. The change removes the current requirement for VAT on free gifts to charities, while donated resale goods remain zero‑rated. The relief aims to reduce waste and administrative costs for businesses and charities alike.

Armenia has introduced a VAT exemption for electric vehicles effective from 1 January 2026. The exemption covers specific HS codes for the first month of the year and then applies only to vehicles manufactured after 31 December 2023 for the remainder of 2026. The change follows legislative amendments made on 17 December 2025.

Bulgaria has amended its VAT Act to introduce new regimes for goods supplied with installation by EU suppliers and for small enterprises, effective 1 January 2026. The changes remove the reverse‑charge obligation for goods assembled or installed by EU‑based foreign suppliers and establish two special schemes for small businesses to align with the EU VAT Directive.

Brazil has approved a second law that operationalises its dual VAT system, introducing a federal CBS tax of 8.8% and a state/municipal IBS tax of 17.7% and replacing PIS, Cofins, ICMS and ISS. The legislation establishes a national governance body for IBS, provides sector‑specific rules, and sets a phased transition from 2026 to 2033.

The EU will abolish the EUR 150 customs duty exemption for small parcels from 1 July 2026, replacing it with a fixed EUR 3 duty per item if VAT is paid via IOSS. A Union‑wide customs handling fee will start in November 2026, while several Member States have already introduced national fees from 1 January 2026. Additionally, the EU will incentivise the IOSS mechanism for B2C distance sales from 1 July 2028 and is working to remove the EUR 150 threshold for IOSS.

The European Data Protection Supervisor has warned that the European Commission’s proposal to grant the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and OLAF direct access to VAT information at EU level needs clearer safeguards to prevent blurring administrative and criminal boundaries. The proposal, aimed at tackling VAT fraud costing the EU €12.5‑32.8 bn annually, would amend an EU regulation to centralise access to VAT data for law‑enforcement purposes.

Spain’s December 2025 draft law transposes the first wave of the EU ViDA directive, tightening OSS rules, clarifying the €10,000 distance‑sales threshold, and expanding non‑Union OSS scope. It also introduces a representative requirement for non‑EU businesses seeking VAT refunds and sets transitional measures for call‑off stock and energy supplies. The draft signals that the most significant e‑invoicing and digital‑reporting mandates will arrive in 2030 and 2035.