The article discusses how indirect tax functions are evolving from compliance to strategic partners, driven by AI, data, and new regulatory demands such as the OECD’s Pillar Two and the EU’s VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA). It highlights the impending mandatory e‑invoicing for Irish businesses in 2028 and the operational challenges companies face in preparing for real‑time reporting and data integration.

Experts at a CESS seminar in Hyderabad called for a balanced approach to India’s GST 2.0 rollout, emphasizing the need to simplify compliance while protecting revenue. They highlighted a proposed two‑slab rate structure of 5% and 18%, reforms to address inverted duty structures in textiles and fertilizers, and concerns over misuse of the three‑day registration approval window. The Trust‑First philosophy notes that 95% of taxpayers operate without intrusive scrutiny.

Venezuela’s official gazette published Decree No. 5,207 on Jan. 9, extending the temporary VAT exemption for import and sale of hydrocarbon fuels and additives until Jan. 11, 2027, effective from Jan. 12, 2026. The decree applies to state, state‑owned, mixed‑ownership, and private companies under the Organic Hydrocarbons Law, establishes documentation requirements, outlines customs procedures, and mandates semi‑annual evaluation by SENIAT.

Colombia enacted Legislative Decree 1474 on 29 December 2025, raising VAT on alcoholic beverages to 19% from 5%, imposing 19% VAT on online gambling, and reducing the VAT‑free threshold for low‑value imports from USD 200 to USD 50. The decree also allocates 5% of the alcoholic beverage VAT to departments. These measures aim to stabilise public finances after the 2026 budget rejection.

Switzerland’s Federal Council proposes a temporary 0.8‑percentage‑point increase in VAT to raise CHF 31 billion over ten years, aimed at funding a substantial rise in defence spending. The detailed proposal is due in March, with voters expected to decide in summer 2027 and the hike taking effect in 2028.

The UK First‑Tier Tax Tribunal issued a judgment on Jan. 9 clarifying input VAT deduction and zero‑rating rules for second‑hand car transactions. The case involved a company that purchased high‑value used cars in Northern Ireland and sold them to customers in the Republic of Ireland. The Tribunal found that the taxpayer could not claim the input VAT deduction and zero‑rating as the Tax Agency had denied the claims.

Denmark’s Ministry of Finance announced a planned cut to the VAT on basic foodstuffs in 2028, with debate over whether the reduction should apply to all food or only fruit and vegetables. The proposal would require amendments to the VAT Act and could involve either a 20% reduced rate or a targeted zero‑rate for certain categories. Implementation is expected to be delayed due to technical complexity.

Liberia will replace its existing 12% Goods and Services Tax (GST) with an 18% Value Added Tax (VAT) regime effective 1 January 2027. The GST will be increased to 13% from 1 January 2026, and businesses can begin VAT registration from 1 July 2026. The new VAT will allow input tax deductions, eliminating the cascading effect of the current GST.

Experts and tax officials at an ICSSR‑sponsored seminar in Hyderabad called for a balanced approach to India’s upcoming GST 2.0 rollout, highlighting the need to simplify rates while protecting revenue. They warned against the misuse of the three‑day registration approval window and the inverted duty structure in sectors such as textiles and fertilizers.

Turkey has extended the VAT exemption for inward processing regime (IPR) purchases until 31 December 2030. The decision, published in the Official Gazette on 29 January 2026, adds five years to the exemption that had been in place for about 27 years. Export‑oriented firms can continue to buy domestically sourced raw materials and intermediate goods without paying VAT, easing cash flow and supporting local supply chains.