Austria is modernising its fiscal cash register regime from 2026, raising the small‑seller exemption threshold to €45,000, making the 15‑product‑group recording rule permanent, and allowing optional digital receipts from 1 October 2026. Paper receipts remain available on request, while core security features such as secure recording, digital signatures and QR‑coded receipts stay unchanged.

Belgium has mandated electronic invoicing for VAT‑registered organisations since 1 January 2026. However, widespread technical problems with the Peppol platform and accounting software have caused invoices to be lost, duplicated or delayed, threatening to miss the 25 January VAT‑return deadline. Accountants have requested a three‑day extension and exemption from penalties if the issues can be proven.

The article argues that structured e-invoicing is essential for real-time compliance, contrasting it with static PDF invoices that are likened to paper maps. It highlights the limitations of PDFs in modern tax and audit contexts and stresses the need for machine‑enforceable, globally standardised data objects. The piece serves as a commentary on the evolving expectations of tax authorities and the strategic importance of real‑time visibility for CFOs.

Serbia’s new e‑invoicing law, adopted in Official Gazette No. 109/2025, introduces mandatory e‑invoicing for retail sales to corporate cardholders and public sector entities, postpones pre‑filled VAT returns to 2027, and requires internal invoices to be generated in the SEF system. The Ministry of Finance also released SEF version 3.14.0 with new validation and reporting features.

Malaysia has postponed the rollout of its MyInvois e‑invoicing system for businesses with annual turnover between RM1 million and RM5 million, moving the implementation date to 2027. The change reflects a shift in the national e‑invoicing roadmap and raises the threshold for mandatory e‑invoicing. Businesses in this turnover bracket must prepare to comply by 2027.