The May 2026 Tax & Reg Watchpoint highlights a wave of VAT reforms across Brazil, Africa, Europe, and Asia, including Brazil’s dual VAT model, new digital services taxes in Rwanda, Malawi, Botswana, and Togo, EU data‑sharing for fraud, and other cross‑border compliance changes.

EU introduces a €3 flat customs duty per HS6 item on IOSS shipments under €150, removes de minimis exemption, and targets a €2‑€3 per package handling fee, affecting cross‑border merchants from July 1, 2026.

The CJEU ruled that year‑end transfer‑pricing adjustments are not automatically considered VAT‑relevant unless they are directly linked to a specific supply. The decision clarifies that only adjustments that represent additional consideration for a particular taxable transaction trigger VAT adjustments, and businesses must assess the economic and contractual context of each adjustment to determine VAT exposure.