The VATfaqs digest
Global VAT news, delivered Tuesday and Thursday. Free, curated from 50+ official sources, no spam.
No spam · Unsubscribe any time
The Philippines has advanced the implementation of VAT exemptions for indigenous natural gas, electricity generated from it, and related ancillary services. The exemptions, part of Republic Act No. 12120, will take effect early April 2026 and require certification from the Department of Energy and validation by the Oil and Electric Power Industry Management Bureaus.
Poland has made e‑invoicing mandatory for all VAT‑registered businesses through its KSeF platform, effective February 2026 for large taxpayers and April 2026 for SMEs and foreign entities. The new system integrates with the existing JPK SAF‑T reporting framework, requiring KSeF identification numbers in VAT returns and imposing penalties for non‑compliance. The rollout also mandates KSeF IDs in bank transfers from August 2026 and extends to micro‑entrepreneurs from January 2027.
Global e-Invoicing Requirements Tracker
Spain's government introduced a VAT reduction for fuel on 22 March 2026, leading to a 20‑30 cent per litre drop in petrol and diesel prices. Unleaded 95 now costs around €1.62 in Madrid and €1.60 in Barcelona, while diesel remains above €1.83 in some provinces. Despite the relief, fuel costs remain high compared to pre‑crisis levels.
On 20 March 2026 Angola’s AGT exempted taxpayers who issue electronic invoices from the obligation to submit SAF‑T files, simplifying compliance for those already on the e‑invoicing system. The exemption covers large taxpayers, government suppliers and, from 1 October 2026, all remaining VAT‑regime taxpayers, while accounting and inventory SAF‑T obligations remain unchanged.
North Macedonia has lowered the VAT on gasoline and diesel from 18% to 10% effective 23 March 2026 for a two‑week period to curb fuel price rises linked to the Middle East conflict. The change is expected to keep gasoline prices stable while diesel will rise modestly by 3–3.5 dinars (€0.04–€0.05) per litre.
Northern Cyprus has temporarily reduced VAT on all fuel products to 0% under the 2025 VAT Rates (Amendment) Regulation, following a Council of Ministers decision published on 18 March 2025. The change covers unleaded petrol, diesel, kerosene, fuel oil and aviation fuel, and is accompanied by a cap on importer and dealer margins at 7.25 TL per litre to curb inflation driven by the Iran conflict.
North Macedonia has temporarily reduced fuel VAT from 18% to 10% to curb price rises triggered by the Middle East conflict. The measure, announced by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, takes effect from midnight on 23 March 2026 and is set to last two weeks. Petrol prices are expected to stay flat while diesel may rise slightly by €0.04‑€0.05 per litre.
India’s GST 2.0 reform, effective 22 September 2025, cut the GST on most small cars to 18% and on larger cars and SUVs to a flat 40%, boosting first‑time buyer shares for major manufacturers. The tax reset has lifted demand in the budget‑friendly segment, with Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors reporting higher first‑time buyer percentages.
The North Macedonian government announced a reduction of the VAT rate on fuel from 18% to 10% to curb rising fuel prices. Gasoline prices remain unchanged, while diesel will rise by only 3–3.5 denars per litre. The change was approved in an extraordinary meeting on 22 March 2026.
Spain has proposed cutting the VAT on fuel from 21% to 10% as part of a €5 billion support package to mitigate the economic impact of the Iran war. The measures also suspend the hydrocarbon excise duty, eliminate a 5% electricity consumption tax, and grant a 20‑cent per litre subsidy for farming and transport sectors. The proposals await parliamentary approval and are aimed at reducing fuel prices by 30–40 cents per litre.
Spain announced a €5 billion anti‑crisis package that cuts VAT on fuels, electricity and gas from 21% to 10% and extends the social electricity bonus until December 2026. The plan also provides an 80% toll rebate for exposed industries and 20 cents per litre aid for the agricultural sector.
Spain has temporarily lowered VAT on petrol, electricity and natural gas from 21% to 10% as part of a €5bn cost‑of‑living package announced by President Pedro Sánchez. The Royal Decree‑Law will take effect after publication in the Official State Gazette on 21 March 2026, and includes reductions in excise duties and electricity taxes.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance unveiled a draft law that will overhaul VAT rules for individual entrepreneurs, digital platforms, and parcel deliveries. Key changes include a new 4 million UAH threshold for mandatory VAT registration effective 1 Jan 2027, a 5 % tax on digital platform income with specific caps, revised military tax rates, and new VAT rules for distance‑sale parcels with exemptions up to 45 EUR.
Morocco has introduced a new VAT regime for non‑resident digital service providers, requiring quarterly registration, reporting and payment via a dedicated electronic platform effective 11 June 2026. The 20 % VAT rate applies to B2C digital services, with detailed transaction‑level reporting mandated within 30 days of each quarter. B2B digital services remain nil‑rated for foreign suppliers, with reverse charge applied by Moroccan VAT‑registered businesses.
The UK government has introduced the Value Added Tax (Refund of Tax to Great British Nuclear) Order 2026, allowing companies designated under section 317 of the Energy Act 2023 (GBE‑N) to claim VAT refunds on services that support their non‑business activities. The order was published on 18 March 2026 and provides a statutory framework for these refunds.
Slovakia will enforce a 2027 e‑invoicing mandate for B2B and B2G domestic transactions, requiring invoices to be issued and received in the EU EN16931 structured format and reported in real‑time to the Finance Administration. The mandate will roll out in stages, with a voluntary transition in early 2026 and full compliance by 1 January 2027, while intra‑community e‑invoicing will become mandatory from July 2030. Additional changes include tax‑registration reforms effective 1 January 2026 to curb fraud and the replacement of control statements with the new e‑invoicing regime.
On 19 February 2026, Togo will impose an 18% VAT on foreign digital services supplied to consumers, following the 2026 Finance Law and a ministerial order. Digital platforms must collect and remit VAT and report annual income, with a 10% penalty for non‑compliance. The regime also introduces mandatory certified e‑invoicing for VAT‑registered businesses.
Malawi will extend VAT to non-resident digital services from 1 April 2026, requiring foreign providers to charge the standard 17.5% rate. The new regime, announced in the 2026/27 Budget Policy Statement, also doubles the VAT registration threshold to MWK 50 million and covers services such as streaming, online advertising, e‑learning and digital content platforms.
Norway will require all bookkeeping-obligated businesses to issue structured B2B e-invoices from 1 January 2027, with an exemption for entities with less than NOK 50,000 turnover. Digital bookkeeping will become mandatory from 1 January 2028, obliging firms to use accounting systems capable of electronic invoice processing. The tax authority will report on potential next steps, including B2C e-invoicing and e-receipts, before the end of 2026.
The Bahamas government will exempt all unprepared food items from VAT effective 1 April 2026, giving consumers zero VAT at the point of sale. Merchants have a three‑month window to adjust their point‑of‑sale and accounting systems, and the exemption means importers and retailers cannot claim input credits. The move follows earlier VAT rate cuts and aims to reduce consumer costs and administrative complexity.