Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

The Nicaraguan Directorate General of Revenue issued Notice No. 010-01-2026 on Jan. 16, 2026, setting a Jan. 20 deadline for large taxpayers (GRACOS) to pay advance VAT for the first half of January. Failure to meet the deadline could impact tax solvency. This guidance applies to large taxpayers in Nicaragua.

The Bahamas Prime Minister announced that unprepared food will be zero-rated for VAT effective 1 April 2026. The change applies to all unprepared food items sold within the country.

The article argues that India’s 2026 budget should overhaul the GST structure, financing options, and fleet economics to accelerate electric vehicle adoption. It proposes reducing GST on batteries and charging services to 5%, reclassifying battery swapping as an energy service, extending vehicle life norms, and providing green credit and toll waivers to lower ownership costs and support large fleet conversions.

The article discusses the CJEU Advocate General’s opinion in the Stellantis Portugal case, clarifying that transfer pricing adjustments agreed between parties may affect VAT taxable amounts, while unilateral tax authority adjustments do not. It distinguishes between separate services and contractual price adjustments, noting that a change in taxable amount does not constitute a separate supply of services. The final judgment is pending, expected before summer 2026, giving businesses time to assess implications.

Russia increased its VAT rate from 20% to 22% on 1 January 2026, expanding VAT registration to more small businesses. The Finance Ministry expects the hike to bring an extra 3.2 trillion rubles in revenue, while businesses have already raised prices to offset the tax change. The move aims to close the fiscal gap caused by war spending and falling oil revenues.

The EU is proposing two new customs charges for small‑value imported parcels: a €2 handling fee effective November 2026 and a flat €3 duty on goods below €150 effective July 2026. These charges would be paid via the IOSS monthly return and could undermine the scheme by increasing costs and operational complexity. The measures are temporary, pending 2028 customs reforms, and will be reviewed every three months.

The Oman Tax Authority (OTA) has been approved as a Peppol Authority and is advancing its e-invoicing rollout. A consultation session on December 9, 2025 reviewed the draft data dictionary, and OTA has set a phased accreditation schedule for Q1–Q3 2026, culminating in an August 2026 pilot where taxpayers can exchange e‑invoices. The draft dictionary specifies 53 mandatory fields for standard tax e‑invoices and 66 additional conditional fields.

China’s Ministry of Finance announced the cancellation of VAT export rebates for photovoltaic glass products effective 1 April 2026, which is expected to give a short‑term boost to soda ash prices. Battery product rebates will be phased out during 2026 and fully eliminated by 2027. The policy, declared on 9 January 2026, is part of a broader effort to curb excess inventory in the soda ash market.

HMRC has reversed its stance on UK VAT grouping, allowing overseas establishments of UK VAT groups to be treated as part of the group even in EU member states that do not allow whole entity VAT grouping. The change, announced on 19 January 2026, follows a November 2025 brief that also invites businesses to reclaim overpaid VAT. The shift aims to simplify cross‑border compliance and attract foreign investment, while expanding revenue‑protection rules.

Hungary has raised its Intrastat reporting thresholds for EU intra‑community dispatches and arrivals effective 1 January 2026. The arrivals threshold rises to HUF 500 million and the dispatches threshold to HUF 200 million, while the statistical reporting thresholds remain unchanged. The electronic Intrastat form now requires detailed data such as goods description, commodity code, delivery terms, transport mode, destination and origin countries, weight or quantity, and invoice value, and since January 2022 also the country of origin for dispatches and the VAT ID of the recipient.

The Bahamas will apply a 0% VAT rate to unprepared essential food items from 1 April 2026, replacing the 5% reduced rate introduced in 2025. This follows a broader VAT reform that lowered the standard rate from 12% to 10% in 2024, aiming to ease cost‑of‑living pressures for consumers.

The article explains that the GST Council’s exemption of individual health and term insurance policies effective 22 September 2025 did not lower premiums because insurers lost the ability to claim input tax credit on operating expenses, making the exemption cost‑neutral. It outlines insurers’ options—absorbing costs, raising premiums, or recalibrating commissions—and calls for structural fixes such as partial ITC restoration and concessional GST rates.

Cyprus has extended a zero VAT rate on essential fresh produce until the end of 2026. The measure, announced by the Tax Department following a decree dated 21 November 2025, applies from 1 January to 31 December 2026 and covers a specific list of vegetables and fruits. Businesses must comply with the decree’s provisions to qualify for the zero rate.

Côte d’Ivoire has introduced a 9% value‑added tax on animal feed, production inputs and related packaging, effective 17 January 2026. The measure replaces a previous exemption that applied until the end of 2025 and is part of the 2026 Finance Law tax reform. The reduced rate, chosen over the standard 18%, aims to limit the impact on the livestock sector while still bringing these goods into the VAT framework.

The Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG) warns that broad VAT exemptions in the Bahamas can undermine fiscal sustainability, fairness, compliance, and public trust. It calls for evidence‑based, transparent policy design, minimal exemptions, targeted social protection, and the implementation of FOIA and whistleblower protections.

The article outlines how AI and advanced analytics are sharpening audit precision, highlights intensified transfer pricing scrutiny, and stresses the need for businesses to prepare for Pillar Two global minimum tax rules. It emphasizes pre‑audit readiness, real‑time data integrity, and cross‑functional alignment to mitigate risk in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

Israel’s e‑invoicing mandate is expanding in 2026, lowering the invoice amount thresholds that trigger mandatory electronic invoicing. From 1 January 2026 invoices above 10,000 NIS must use the SHAAM allocation system, and from 1 June 2026 the threshold drops to 5,000 NIS. The ITA’s approach is based on invoice value rather than overall turnover, and suppliers must obtain and display an allocation number on each invoice.

The South African Tax Court ruled that government funding is taxable when it is paid in exchange for identifiable services, regardless of the label ‘grant’. The decision focuses on commercial reality—formal agreements, deliverables, invoicing and performance oversight—rather than organisational form or public‑benefit objectives. Accounting classifications do not override VAT characterisation, underscoring the need for careful governance and early tax input.

The article explains the UK Cash Accounting for VAT scheme, which allows VAT-registered businesses to pay VAT only when they receive payment, aligning tax liability with cash flow. It highlights the £1.35 million projected turnover threshold, the scheme’s benefits and limitations, and ongoing discussions about raising the eligibility threshold.

Belgium will implement a new VAT rate structure from 1 March 2026, shifting take‑away meals and many leisure services to a 12% rate while raising the rate for furnished accommodation to 12% and moving plant protection products to the standard 21% rate. The changes also refine drink taxation in restaurants and preserve 6% rates for specific cultural performances.