Austria has lowered its reduced VAT rate from 10% to 5% for a defined basket of goods, effective 1 July 2026. The change applies only to specified goods and does not affect the standard rate.

The UK Supreme Court confirmed that VAT incurred on adviser fees related to an exempt share sale is not recoverable, applying a strict two‑stage test that requires a direct and immediate link to the transaction. The ruling rejects the modified approach that allowed recovery based on intended use of proceeds and clarifies that VAT grouping does not alter the nature of a share sale. Businesses must conduct early VAT analysis for share disposals to account for irrecoverable adviser fees.

The article discusses the completion of GST 2.0 in India, the removal of the GST compensation cess, and the introduction of new excise rates on demerit goods such as cigarettes. It highlights how the excise notification could trigger a tax shock, affecting tobacco growers, small retailers, and the broader economy. Monthly GST collections in late 2025 remained robust, exceeding Rs 1.7–1.9 lakh crore.

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s House of Representatives adopted a draft law on fiscalization of transactions, establishing obligations for electronic invoicing, a real‑time transaction recording system, monitoring mechanisms, and criminal provisions to curb tax evasion. The law builds on the 2009 fiscal systems law and aims to modernize tax compliance across the Federation.

Chile’s Internal Revenue Service (SII) has issued new resolutions in 2025 that expand electronic invoicing obligations. The updates require digital platform operators to verify seller registrations, mandate electronic receipts for all in‑person sales, and introduce a Delivery Note Registry with detailed transport information. Electronic invoicing has been mandatory since February 1 2018, and the SII continues to enforce validation and acceptance timelines.

The German Ministry of Finance clarified rules on input VAT deductions for subsidized service providers that operate at persistent loss. The BMF Letter states that such providers cannot deduct input VAT for services unrelated to taxable activity and must satisfy a two‑step test linking remuneration to performance and confirming economic activity. The letter also amends the VAT Application Decree.

Poland’s Ministry of Finance and Economy has signed four executive regulations that finalize the technical and organisational aspects of the National E‑Invoicing System (KSeF). The new rules set exemptions for certain services, change simplified invoice handling, and introduce mandatory JPK_VAT reporting with KSeF identifiers from 1 February 2026. Businesses must update their accounting and ERP systems to comply with the new authorisation, authentication and data‑scope requirements.

Zimbabwe’s tax authority has clarified that non‑resident digital service providers must remain VAT‑registered if their annual turnover from services consumed in Zimbabwe exceeds USD 25,000, even after the introduction of Digital Services Withholding Tax (DSWT). The DSWT withholding amount is credited against the supplier’s VAT liability, but all compliance obligations, including fiscalisation, continue to apply. The fiscalisation mandate has been live for all VAT‑registered taxpayers since June 2025.