Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

The UK Government brief confirms that the VAT exemption for deputising services extends to all temporary medical staff, including locum doctors supplied by employment businesses, following a 2025 First Tier Tribunal ruling. Businesses that have charged standard‑rate VAT on such supplies within the last four years can claim a refund via an error‑correction notification. The brief also outlines the steps for claiming refunds and the impact on recovered input tax.

The article outlines how corporate income tax (CIT) and VAT planning, vehicle selection, and structuring choices can materially affect returns on Portuguese real estate investments. It highlights Portugal’s progressive CIT rate reduction, the special tax regime for SICs, and the conditions under which VAT exemptions can be waived to enable VAT recovery while preserving CIT benefits.

The UK First‑Tier Tax Tribunal ruled on 16 December 2025 that photography costs used for product catalogues and an online store by an online retailer with integrated financial services are fully recoverable input VAT, as they are used for taxable retail supplies. The decision clarifies that such costs are not partially recoverable due to mixed use with exempt financial services.