EU member states are pushing for a €2 customs handling fee on low‑value parcels (below €150) to take effect on 1 July 2026, ahead of the planned 1 November 2026 date. An interim €3 customs levy will also apply from 1 July 2026 until March 2028, while the €150 duty threshold is slated for removal under the 2028 customs reform. The fee could be reduced to €0.50 for importers registered with the Trust and Check Trader scheme.

Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Office has released the ViDA implementation document outlining mandatory e‑invoicing and real‑time VAT reporting. The reform requires all taxable persons to exchange invoices in the EN 16931 format, prohibits email distribution, and introduces an AOR reporting obligation within five days. The five‑corner model will be used for transmission, with service providers optional.

The European Court of Justice issued three rulings on 12 March 2026 that clarified VAT deduction rights across the EU. The decisions confirmed that Spain can maintain its entertainment expense restrictions under Article 176, that late invoices do not preclude deductions if claimed within the limitation period, and that technical failures in electronic refund transmission cannot cancel refund claims. These rulings reinforce that VAT rights cannot be undermined by excessive formalism or administrative shortcomings.

Italy has postponed its planned €2 customs handling fee for e‑commerce parcels from outside the EU until the EU-level fee takes effect on 1 July 2026. The fee would apply to parcels not exceeding €150 intrinsic value, covering both B2C and B2B shipments, and is expected to generate €123 million in 2026 and €245 million from 2027 onward. The EU will introduce an interim €3 levy from 1 July 2026 and a €2 levy from 1 November 2026, with plans to remove the €150 de‑minimis exemption in 2028.

Multi‑country e‑invoicing is evolving from a compliance exercise into a global business transformation initiative. The article outlines four strategic pillars—selecting a single global supplier, partnering with a tax‑technology expert, ensuring clean ERP‑driven data, and leveraging automation—to turn compliance into operational value. These elements can help multinational organisations reduce complexity, improve accuracy, and unlock broader financial insights.

The French Tax Authority issued guidance on March 4, 2026 clarifying VAT obligations for dropshipping operations that do not use the IOSS. The guidance sets thresholds for import VAT liability, specifies when the seller or consumer is responsible, and requires non‑EU sellers to appoint a tax representative. It also defines the place of taxation for cross‑border distance sales.

Basware’s blog post discusses the lack of a nationwide e‑invoicing mandate in the U.S. and urges finance leaders to build proactive compliance systems before future regulations arrive. It cites that 47 % of U.S. companies have struggled with market expansion due to missed deadlines, 83 % see fragmented compliance as a risk, and only 33 % can scale compliance effectively. The piece highlights the benefits of an invoice lifecycle management approach for real‑time visibility and audit readiness.