Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

On 17 December 2025 the UK First‑Tier Tax Tribunal ruled that companies trading in telephone calling cards are liable for VAT and penalties, rejecting their claim to recover input VAT on purchases from a Hong Kong supplier. The tribunal held that the companies acted as principals, not agents, and failed to hold valid VAT invoices.

Cyprus Tax Agency extended the filing and payment deadline for certain VAT obligations to Jan. 20, 2026. The extension covers VAT returns for the period ended Nov. 30, 2025, VIES summary tables for December 2025, and flat‑rate declarations for the special urban taxi regime. Late filing may incur a 10% additional VAT and a €100 penalty.

The BFH ruling confirms that input tax can be deducted for the renovation of a historic castle even when financed by public grants and private donations, provided there is an entrepreneurial intent to generate taxable rental income. The decision clarifies that financing does not affect deduction, requires a clear allocation between private and taxable use, and mandates that the tax office determine the exact deductible share.

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.

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.

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.

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.