Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

Italy’s 2026 Budget Law introduces several indirect tax measures effective 1 January 2026, including a new €2 levy on small shipments into the EU, a change to the VAT base for barter transactions, and automatic VAT settlement for non‑filing taxpayers. The law also postpones the plastic and sugar taxes to 1 January 2027 and the new consolidated VAT code will take effect on 1 January 2027.

Foreign investors in Indonesia must register for VAT once their annual turnover exceeds IDR 4.8 billion (US$300,000). After registration, all VAT invoices must be issued and validated through the e‑Faktur system, with monthly reporting and reconciliation required. Non‑compliant invoices and inconsistencies between invoices, returns, and accounting records can trigger audits and penalties.

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.

North Macedonia has begun the pilot testing phase of its new e-invoice system, e‑Faktura, on 5 January 2026. The state‑owned platform will allow real‑time, direct communication between businesses and the tax authority, with test invoices having no legal effect. The rollout will include a client application by the end of Q1 2026, a production server by the end of Q2 2026, and mandatory adoption from Q3 2026.

Malaysia’s Inland Revenue Board (IRBM) has issued several updates to its e‑invoicing guidelines, expanding the use of consolidated invoices for construction materials, extending grace periods for small businesses, and tightening rules for electricity and telecom services. Full compliance is now required by 1 July 2026, with a phased roll‑out schedule and mandatory UBL 2.1 XML/JSON format, digital signatures, and a seven‑year archiving period.

Oman will introduce an e-invoicing mandate in 2026. The Oman Tax Authority (OTA) is hosting a second consultative workshop for service providers to discuss compliance and preparation for the upcoming requirement.