Mexico amended its Federal Revenue Law on 7 November 2025, removing the ability to recover 16% VAT on goods and services used in major medical insurance claims. The change is retroactive from 1 January 2025 and is expected to raise major medical costs by 10‑12%, potentially increasing loss ratios by 8‑12% and overall captive costs by over 20%. WTW recommends early engagement and scenario analysis to manage the impact.

Crowe UK outlines five key VAT and tax risks and opportunities for hospice charities, covering corporation tax on non‑primary purpose trading, Gift Aid compliance, fundraising event exemptions, building project VAT relief, and upcoming investment rules effective April 2026. The article highlights practical compliance steps and recent court rulings that may affect hospice operations.

Mexico amended its Federal Revenue Law on 7 November 2025, removing insurers’ ability to recover 16% VAT on goods and services used in covered major medical treatments. The change is retroactive from 1 January 2025 and is expected to raise major medical costs by 10‑12%, potentially increasing loss ratios by 8‑12% and overall captive costs by over 20%.

The CJEU reaffirmed that substantive VAT exemption conditions prevail over formalities, with three 2025 judgments clarifying that missing Article 45a documents, incomplete export paperwork, or absent customs steps do not automatically deny exemptions if fraud is absent. The rulings reinforce fiscal neutrality and outline narrow exceptions where formal non‑compliance can defeat an exemption.

On 11 February 2026, the EU General Court ruled that Polish VAT deduction rules are inconsistent with EU law, allowing businesses to deduct VAT in the month the transaction occurred if the invoice is received before the filing deadline. The decision invalidates the practice of postponing deductions to the next settlement period and is binding on Polish tax authorities, potentially improving liquidity for taxpayers. The ruling may prompt amendments to national regulations.

Canada’s federal government has announced a one‑time top‑up to the GST credit, rebranded as the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which will increase payments by 25 % for five years starting in July 2026. The benefit will extend to 500,000 new families, potentially helping up to 12.6 million Canadians, but eligibility thresholds are low, excluding many low‑income households. The article argues that these tweaks are insufficient and calls for a larger increase in the basic personal amount to provide broader relief.

A preliminary ruling before the CJEU (Case T‑96/26, TellusTax Advisory) examines whether a Swedish supplier’s right to deduct input VAT can be limited because the services were provided to a Luxembourg securitisation vehicle that benefits from a fund‑management VAT exemption. The Swedish Tax Authorities denied the deduction, arguing that VAT must have been due in Luxembourg for the deduction to apply. The outcome will have implications for securitisation vehicles and the broader fund industry.

Austria will exempt menstrual hygiene products and certain contraceptives from VAT from 1 January 2026, replacing a 10 % reduced rate. The Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) is empowered to ensure the tax savings are passed on to consumers and can launch sector investigations if prices do not reflect the relief. This marks a novel use of competition law to safeguard the effectiveness of a gender‑focused social policy.

South Africa’s National Treasury is unlikely to raise the VAT rate for Budget 2026/27, citing political resistance. Instead, the focus will shift to enforcement and administrative reforms to strengthen the VAT system. A R20 bn tax increase pencilled in for 2026/27 is also expected to be reconsidered based on Sars performance.

Federal Decree‑Law No. 16 of 2025 introduced a five‑year limitation period for VAT refund claims in the UAE, effective 1 January 2026. Businesses must now file returns strategically to avoid permanent loss of input‑VAT credits, with transitional relief until 31 December 2026 for credits older than five years. The change turns VAT compliance into a cash‑flow optimisation tool.

The article examines the Tour Operators’ Margin Scheme (TOMS), highlighting its intended simplification for travel agents and the significant challenges it poses, such as blocked input VAT and inconsistent application across EU Member States. It discusses the scheme’s impact on profitability, competitive distortions, and the European Commission’s public consultation on reforms launched in 2025.

The UAE’s 2026 corporate tax registration wave introduces new deadlines and penalties, requiring natural persons with over AED 1 million in revenue to register by March 31 2026, companies incorporated in 2026 to complete registration within three months of incorporation, and all free‑zone entities to register regardless of Qualifying Free Zone Person status. A AED 10 000 penalty applies for late registration, and the changes aim to align entity structures with long‑term compliance and operational flexibility.

The article explains how indirect tax compliance has evolved from a SaaS-like model to an infrastructure layer, driven by regulatory changes such as e‑invoicing mandates that embed compliance into transactional workflows. It highlights the shift toward networked operating layers, with platforms focusing on connectivity, interoperability, and real‑time regulatory interaction rather than just calculation and filing. The piece notes that regulatory velocity and mandate rollouts are now key drivers of platform selection and market dynamics.

The article examines how transfer pricing adjustments can trigger VAT when they are considered payment for goods or services, citing the recent Stellantis Portugal Advocate General opinion. It highlights the need for multinationals to conduct structured reviews, document economic rationale, and maintain evidence to mitigate VAT risks, especially in finance and insurance sectors.

Poland’s Ministry of Digitalization has launched a public consultation on a new 3 % digital services tax (DST) that would broaden the existing 1.5 % rate to cover targeted advertising, multilateral digital interfaces and monetisation of user data, while exempting regulated financial services, direct online sales and publishing. The proposal would apply to companies with global revenue of €1 bn and Polish revenue above €6 m (PLN 25 m), and the government expects to raise about €400 m (PLN 1.7 bn) in 2027, roughly 0.3 % of total tax revenue. The article argues that the DST would impose a heavy burden on large multinationals, trigger potential US retaliation, and that a VAT reform would be a more efficient alternative.

Bloomberg Tax’s commentary discusses how transfer pricing adjustments can create VAT exposure, citing recent ECJ cases and a Stellantis Portugal Advocate General opinion. It explains that adjustments tied to specific goods or services may be subject to VAT, while purely profit‑based adjustments may not. The article advises multinationals to conduct structured reviews and maintain documentation to mitigate risks.

The Advocate General opinion in the Stellantis Portugal case highlights uncertainty over whether transfer pricing adjustments constitute separate supplies of services and thus trigger VAT. The article reviews recent ECJ cases, outlines the need for structured VAT reviews, and stresses the importance of documentation for multinationals, especially those in finance and insurance sectors.

In December 2025 the Court of Appeal in ’s‑Hertogenbosch ruled that VAT can be deducted on construction costs of a workroom and garage rented to a company, provided the rental is a taxable economic activity. The ruling allows deduction only for the portion attributable to the taxable rental, even if the garage has limited private use. The decision is not final, as a cassation appeal has been filed with the Supreme Court, so businesses should seek VAT advice to ensure compliance.

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 article argues that compliance with country mandates should be seen as a baseline, not the ultimate goal. It emphasizes that true invoicing success lies in data governance and ensuring invoices are accurate, fraud‑free, and defensible in accounting, rather than merely passing XML validation. The author highlights mandates in Poland, France, Belgium, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, and calls for a holistic approach to tax determination and data integrity.