Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

The Upper Tribunal ruled that Lycamobile UK must pay more than £50 million in VAT, requiring the operator to charge VAT on the full price of prepaid mobile bundles at the point of sale, rather than only on services actually used. The decision, dated 12 Feb 2026, overturns Lycamobile's previous VAT calculation method.

Sweden is preparing to overhaul its One‑Stop Shop (OSS) and e‑commerce VAT rules effective 1 January 2027. The changes clarify deemed‑supplier status for platforms, tighten distance‑sales threshold conditions, redefine the interaction with the domestic threshold, expand the third‑country OSS regime, and refine input‑VAT deduction and refund regimes.

Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for filing online VAT returns for the January 2026 tax period by one week, until 22 February 2026. The extension was granted due to holidays and temporary disruptions to the e-challan system and VAT server. Taxpayers can now file through the e‑VAT system until the new deadline.

Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue has revised the VAT structure on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), removing the 7.5 % VAT at local production and trading stages and the 2 % advance tax at import. A uniform 7.5 % VAT will now be applied at the import stage, effective 16 February 2026 and set to remain until 30 June 2026. The change is expected to lower the overall VAT burden on consumers by roughly 20 %.

Delaying VAT compliance while upgrading to SAP S/4HANA exposes companies to rework, higher costs, and regulatory penalties. Early integration of VAT and e‑invoicing solutions can prevent errors, reduce audit risk, and accelerate time‑to‑value. The article warns that legacy SAP ERP systems will reach end‑of‑support in 2027, urging firms to embed compliance from day one.

Ireland's Revenue has confirmed that large corporates will be required to issue structured e‑invoices for domestic B2B transactions from 1 November 2028, as part of the phased rollout of the EU ViDa e‑invoicing and real‑time reporting initiative. The regime will expand to all cross‑border EU B2B transactions benefiting from 0% VAT in Phase Two (November 2029) and to all cross‑border B2B transactions under the EU directive from 1 July 2030.

The February 2026 Global VAT Guide provides a concise overview of recent VAT and e‑invoicing developments across Europe, the EU, Japan and Mexico. Key updates include Belgium’s new place‑of‑supply rules for virtual events, Croatia’s extended VAT return deadline, the Czech Republic’s InstatEvo transition, a temporary €3 customs duty on low‑value goods in the EU, and changes to Belgium’s federal tax payment BIC code.

The article reviews recent EU Court of Justice rulings that clarify the VAT treatment of transfer‑pricing adjustments in intragroup transactions. It explains that payments calculated under OECD methods may be treated as VAT‑subjected remuneration for services, while unilateral profit allocations are generally outside VAT scope. The piece also highlights the pending Stellantis Portugal opinion and the need for businesses to document services and support evidence to secure VAT recoverability.

The OECD’s 2026 report outlines guidance on Digital Continuous Transactional Reporting (DCTR), urging jurisdictions to adopt real‑time VAT transaction reporting and structured e‑invoicing. It highlights the EU’s ViDA initiative, slated for rollout by 2030, and the requirement for intra‑EU invoicing interoperability by 2035. Businesses are advised to modernise ERP and billing systems, improve data quality, and strengthen security to meet the forthcoming digital compliance landscape.

The article discusses the EU’s longstanding VAT exemption for financial services, noting that the exemption was introduced in 1977 and remains in place across EU member states, Iceland, and the UK. It reviews the European Parliament’s February 2026 draft report, which calls for modernising the tax framework, highlights the 91 sector‑specific taxes that have emerged, and explores options such as abolishing the exemption for B2B services or differentiating between B2B and B2C. The piece underscores the hidden costs, market distortions, and competitiveness concerns that the current exemption creates.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) in Bangladesh has extended the deadline for filing online VAT returns via its e‑VAT system to 22 February 2026. The extension was granted to accommodate government holidays around Shab‑e‑Barat, a national election, and technical disruptions on 15 February. Taxpayers are urged to submit their January 2026 returns within the new period to avoid penalties.

China's Ministry of Finance announced a phased rollback of VAT export rebates for battery products, cutting the rebate from 9% to 6% from April 2026 to December 2026 and eliminating it entirely from January 2027. Photovoltaic product rebates will also be scrapped from April 2026. The move is expected to squeeze margins for exporters unless they can pass costs to overseas buyers, with industry experts forecasting gradual price increases of 2–3% for power batteries and 2–4% for energy storage batteries.

This HMRC internal manual provides guidance on how VAT applies to local authorities and other government and public bodies in the UK. It covers various categories such as non‑business activities, police authorities, NHS capital projects, and local government partnership programmes. The manual serves as a reference for VAT compliance and exemptions for public sector entities.

The post highlights that the German BMF letter dated 15 Oct 2025 requires e‑invoices to be fully and correctly validated for VAT recognition. It points out common validator shortcomings—such as incomplete EN 16931 checks, superficial VAT checks, and lack of audit‑proof documentation—and warns that many validators only verify the existence of data fields, allowing invoices with missing content to be accepted.

Poland's Ministry of Finance has opened a consultation on draft explanations for a VAT exemption covering defense-related supplies financed by the EU SAFE instrument amid the Russia‑Ukraine conflict. The exemption permits suppliers to deduct VAT paid at the preceding stage, requires a VAT exemption certificate stamped by the competent authority of the purchasing entity’s EU country, and applies to the final transaction in the supply chain as well as to supplies and intra‑Community acquisitions.

The article explains that under current GST scrutiny, the eligibility of Input Tax Credit (ITC) hinges on a consistent documentation trail rather than just invoices. Chartered accountant Nitin Kaushik outlines the types of records—purchase orders, GST invoices with e‑way bills, GRNs, bank statements, and GSTR filings—that authorities examine. He stresses that due diligence and alignment of all records can protect bona fide buyers from penalties.

Canada’s federal government fast‑tracked Bill C‑19 on 14 February 2026, adding a one‑time spring top‑up equal to 50 % of the annual GST credit and raising the base credit by 25 % for five years. More than 12 million low‑income Canadians will receive the payment automatically via the CRA, with a family of four eligible for up to C$1,890 in 2026.