Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

Germany introduces Section 21b to the VAT Act from 1 January 2026, addressing import VAT treatment when customs declarations are filed in one EU Member State but goods are cleared in another. The new rules clarify that import VAT liability arises domestically when goods are presented domestically, with specific provisions for AEO C holders using centralised clearance.

From 1 January 2026, the Netherlands extends its VAT revision regime to costly real estate services exceeding €30,000. The new rules introduce a five-year revision period for qualifying renovation and improvement services, requiring real estate owners and developers to reassess VAT positioning on ongoing projects.

The article argues that structured e-invoicing is essential for real-time compliance, contrasting it with static PDF invoices that are likened to paper maps. It highlights the limitations of PDFs in modern tax and audit contexts and stresses the need for machine‑enforceable, globally standardised data objects. The piece serves as a commentary on the evolving expectations of tax authorities and the strategic importance of real‑time visibility for CFOs.

The EU has agreed an interim €3 customs levy for parcels that will take effect on 1 July 2026. Romania and Italy have already implemented national levies of 25 RON (~€5) and €2 respectively for low‑value parcels, while the Netherlands and France remain in proposal stages. The move aims to curb VAT and customs fraud on low‑value e‑commerce shipments.

The South Korean National Tax Service released a press statement outlining new VAT filing and payment deadlines. The main deadlines are Jan. 26 for filing and paying returns for the July–December 2025 period, and March 26 for an extended payment deadline for certain SMEs. Simplified taxpayers and businesses facing financial difficulties also receive automatic or optional extensions.

Serbia’s new e‑invoicing law, adopted in Official Gazette No. 109/2025, introduces mandatory e‑invoicing for retail sales to corporate cardholders and public sector entities, postpones pre‑filled VAT returns to 2027, and requires internal invoices to be generated in the SEF system. The Ministry of Finance also released SEF version 3.14.0 with new validation and reporting features.

Malaysia has postponed the rollout of its MyInvois e‑invoicing system for businesses with annual turnover between RM1 million and RM5 million, moving the implementation date to 2027. The change reflects a shift in the national e‑invoicing roadmap and raises the threshold for mandatory e‑invoicing. Businesses in this turnover bracket must prepare to comply by 2027.

The OECD has released guidance for policymakers on designing mandates for real-time reporting of value‑added tax transactions. The guidance is aimed at countries that are considering or adopting real‑time reporting systems and outlines key principles and considerations for effective implementation.

The Bahamas will remove VAT from all food items previously taxed at 5% effective April 1 2026. The zero‑rate will cover unprepared groceries such as fresh produce, baby food, frozen foods, meats, staples, milk and eggs, but excludes prepared meals and restaurant food. The change aims to ease cost‑of‑living pressures.

China will scrap value‑added tax rebates on photovoltaic products from April 2026, ending the export rebate for PV modules. Between April and December 2026, battery product rebates will be cut from 9% to 6%, and the full removal of PV rebates will take effect on 1 January 2027. The policy shift follows a November 2024 reduction of solar wafer, cell and module rebates from 13% to 9%.

The OECD has released guidance to help policymakers design real‑time reporting mandates for VAT transactions. The guidance outlines principles for implementing real‑time data submission to tax authorities, a feature increasingly adopted by member states. It aims to standardise reporting requirements and improve compliance.

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance posted a Federal Finance Court decision clarifying liability for standard consumption tax (NoVA) and VAT on cross-border vehicle acquisitions. The ruling addresses the taxpayer’s center of life and the statute of limitations for assessments, upholding the Austrian Tax Office’s assessment in a case involving a German citizen residing in Austria who purchased a vehicle in Germany. The court dismissed the taxpayer’s arguments that the center of vital interests was in Germany and that the assessments were time-barred.

The Romanian National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) has set key filing dates for January 2026, covering VAT registrations, returns, social contributions, withholding tax, and One‑Stop‑Shop (OSS) submissions. The deadlines vary by taxpayer type and transaction profile, with specific dates for quarterly VAT taxpayers, registration changes, and December 2025 related filings.

Ukraine requires all VAT‑registered businesses to issue electronic invoices in XML format and submit them to the Unified Register of Tax Invoices before sending them to recipients. Public sector suppliers must use e‑invoicing for all transactions, with digital signatures mandatory and invoices archived for three years.

Ukraine requires electronic invoicing for taxpayers with annual revenue above UAH 1 million, and mandates SAF‑T reporting for SMEs since 1 Jan 2023 and for large enterprises since 1 Jan 2022. The Cabinet adopted a two‑year experimental e‑TTN project on 30 May 2024, which will become mandatory after the trial period, eliminating paper consignment notes.

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 article discusses how adopting Article 59 bis of Directive 2006/112/EC would allow Spain to exclude from VAT the portion of charter fees earned in international waters, aligning its rules with France and Italy. Currently Spain applies a flat 21 % VAT to all charter fees regardless of itinerary. The author highlights the feasibility of implementing this measure using satellite geolocation for accurate itinerary certification.

This article discusses the importance of reviewing source documents for VAT compliance, highlighting common issues uncovered such as incorrect VAT treatment, missing invoice details, and data quality problems. It recommends a sampling approach of 10‑15 invoices per period and emphasizes the need to document findings and act on insights to improve processes.