Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

Moldovan Parliament has raised the VAT registration threshold from 1.2 million lei to 1.7 million lei, effective 1 March 2026. The change reduces the number of companies required to register for VAT and aims to ease administrative burdens for microenterprises.

German economists warn that a shift from the current 19% VAT to 21% is possible amid weak growth and tight budgets. A 21% rate would raise gross prices of VAT‑able goods by about 1.68% and create a short‑term inflation bump, especially impacting discretionary sectors such as retail, e‑commerce, and hospitality.

The Lebanese government announced a 1% VAT increase from 11% to 12% pending parliamentary approval, with an immediate 25% hike in petrol prices and no change to diesel. The government also aims to improve tax collection and customs duties, issue collection orders for quarries, and review maritime properties.

Azerbaijan’s Parliament has approved a new VAT regime for non‑resident digital service providers, requiring local registration, charging, collecting and remitting VAT from 1 January 2026. The change replaces the previous withholding‑tax or optional‑registration system, introduces a USD 10 000 annual sales threshold and ends the B2B reverse charge that had been in place since 2023. The current VAT rate on digital services remains 18%.

Lebanon’s cabinet approved a one‑percentage‑point increase in VAT from 11% to 12% and raised the price of a 20‑litre petrol canister by 300,000 Lebanese pounds. The government also announced a pay rise for public sector workers and retirees, while abolishing a diesel levy and increasing customs fees on shipping containers.