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.

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.

The article explains the EU VAT Directive’s call‑off stock simplification, which exempts the transfer of goods between Member States from VAT when a single, predetermined customer is known. It contrasts this with consignment stock, which triggers a deemed intra‑Community supply and requires VAT registration in the destination country. Practical compliance requirements such as maintaining stock registers, submitting EC Sales List reports, and potential Intrastat reporting are also outlined.

The article examines the OECD’s Digital Continuous Transactional Reporting (DCTR) framework, highlighting its role as a strategic blueprint for Tax Administration 3.0. It discusses the shift from manual reporting to real‑time digital compliance, the two primary DCTR models, interoperability challenges, SME protection measures, and the importance of data minimization for trust and security.

The German e-invoicing market is projected to grow from USD 15.2 billion in 2024 to USD 41.86 billion by 2033, driven by EU Directive 2014/55/EU and a 13.5% CAGR. Cloud-based solutions dominate the market, holding over 70% share, while large corporations represent about 60% of the market and SMEs are rapidly expanding. The analysis highlights regulatory mandates, market segmentation, and strategic opportunities for technology providers.

The article argues that invoices cannot be considered processed unless fully compliant, highlighting that e‑invoicing mandates cover only a fraction of compliance requirements and that tax authorities focus on tax relevance rather than business legitimacy. It warns that relying solely on ERP or e‑invoicing platforms can create significant risk and that invoice fraud can lead to severe penalties.

Avalara’s blog outlines the 2026 sales tax holiday schedule across the United States, detailing dates, exempt product categories, and state‑specific rules. The post highlights key holidays in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, and other states, noting price caps, local tax considerations, and the need for retailers to update POS systems.

The Italian Revenue Agency has released the 2026 VAT declaration forms and instructions for the 2025 tax year. The new forms, approved by Provvedimento 15/01/2026 n. 51732, introduce several structural changes and new fields. Taxpayers must submit the declaration electronically between 1 February and 30 April 2026.