Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

On 2 December 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the right to deduct VAT arises when a taxable transaction occurs, not when the invoice is received. The decision invalidates Polish rules that tie VAT deduction to invoice receipt, allowing businesses to claim VAT earlier if the invoice is received before the tax return deadline. The ruling is expected to improve cash flow for companies across the EU.

Turkiye has introduced new certification requirements for nondeductible VAT on certain import transactions effective 31 January 2026. Importers with semi‑annual import values above TRY 2.6 million must submit a Special‑Purpose Sworn‑in Certified Public Accountant Report, while those below must file a notification. The rules also allow a full tax‑certification agreement to waive the separate report if it confirms proper treatment.

The General Court ruled that Poland’s requirement of invoice possession for VAT deduction is incompatible with EU law. Polish taxpayers can now deduct VAT in the month of liability if the invoice was issued before the tax return submission, rather than waiting for the next accounting period. The decision is expected to accelerate VAT recovery and improve cash flow, especially under the mandatory KSeF e‑invoicing system.

The Russian Federal Tax Service announced that the filing deadline for Q1 2026 VAT returns is April 27, 2026. Taxpayers must use a new form that reflects a VAT rate increase to 22% from 20%, along with other changes.

Ghana introduced a 12.5% VAT on non‑resident digital service providers to local consumers effective 1 April 2022. The law sets a GHS 200,000 annual turnover threshold for registration and requires monthly returns filed by the 21st of the following month. Non‑resident suppliers must appoint a resident representative or VAT agent to comply.

Ireland’s Revenue has identified the large corporates that will be subject to Phase One of the VAT Modernisation programme, requiring them to issue structured eInvoices from 1 November 2028. All Irish businesses must also be able to receive such eInvoices from the same date, ahead of the EU-wide ViDA cross‑border rules set for July 2030.

Nigeria is tightening VAT and withholding tax compliance by moving from retrospective audits to real‑time reporting of business transactions. The shift, part of a broader fiscalisation strategy, will give tax authorities direct visibility into transactions as they occur, starting with large taxpayers. The e‑invoicing platform will enhance existing filing systems and encourage participation through engagement and simulation portals.

The UK will require all VAT invoices to be e‑invoiced by 2029, mandating machine‑readable formats and accredited transmission. The article outlines the scope, Peppol alignment, and a step‑by‑step timeline for 2026‑2028 to help finance, IT and procurement prepare. It highlights key milestones such as selecting an access point, adopting a canonical data model, and piloting with trading partners.

The interview with Fabian Barth, VAT Manager at Alvarez & Marsal, discusses the challenges of obtaining binding rulings in the UK, recent Supreme Court VAT cases in 2025, and his view that legislative changes should allow public law arguments in tribunals. He notes that the Hotel La Tour and Prudential cases downplayed CJEU precedent, and that European case law remains binding but is not always applied.

Crowe Poland outlines draft amendments to Poland's VAT regime scheduled to take effect July 2026. Key changes include a VAT warehouse system, removal of duplicate inventory reporting, elimination of reporting for tax‑exempt purchases, and repeal of the 14‑day VAT payment rule for intra‑Community transport acquisitions. The amendments aim to simplify compliance and reduce VAT evasion risk.

The European Union has approved a flat €3 customs duty on low‑value parcels valued below €150, effective 1 July 2026, as a temporary measure before broader customs reform in 2028. The rule applies by item type rather than per box and aims to curb unfair competition from direct‑to‑consumer imports, especially from China.

The European General Court issued a preliminary ruling (Case No. T‑657/24) on 9 February 2026 clarifying that credit intermediaries are exempt from VAT only when they canvass and source customers for mortgage‑loan agreements and assist with preparatory work before agreements are concluded. A Portuguese credit intermediary’s commission‑based mortgage‑loan intermediation was challenged, and the court held that unless these conditions are met, the services are taxable.

On 12 February 2026 the Swiss Federal Supreme Court ruled that Chalet AG, a single‑asset company holding a St Moritz chalet, was used to avoid VAT and ordered repayment of CHF 865,000 in input‑tax credits. The decision clarifies that private‑use assets cannot claim broad VAT input credits and signals stricter scrutiny of form‑over‑substance structures in Switzerland.

The article discusses how AI is transforming tax compliance, moving from insight to execution in regulated workflows. It highlights the scale of U.S. sales and use tax obligations across 19,000 jurisdictions and the potential for AI to cut routine reporting work by up to 65%. The piece emphasizes that tax professionals will retain final accountability while focusing on advisory roles.

Sweden will evaluate until December 2027 whether to adopt domestic e‑invoicing or continue with the EU ViDA requirements. The EU ViDA Directive obliges Sweden to implement e‑invoicing and e‑reporting for intra‑community transactions by July 2030. In February 2026, the Ministry of Finance appointed a commissioner to review options, with conclusions due by November 2027.

French VAT reforms introduced on 1 January 2026 now require UK exporters using DDP into France to hold a French VAT number or have an EU-based importer of record. The changes tighten conditions for DDP movements and increase operational and reporting burdens, prompting exporters to reassess provider capabilities. The reforms aim to strengthen compliance and competitive advantage for logistics operators.

Fitch Ratings warns that Thailand’s medium‑term fiscal framework relies on phased VAT increases that are politically difficult to implement, potentially delaying deficit reduction. The plan targets a 2.1% GDP deficit by FY2030, with VAT rising to 8.5% in FY2028 and 10% in FY2030. Political bargaining within the coalition government could jeopardise these fiscal objectives.

VATCalc explains how France’s 2026 reforms are tightening access to Article 143 import VAT relief, requiring non‑EU importers to hold a French VAT registration or an accredited fiscal representative. The EU exemption remains unchanged, but enforcement across the EU is becoming stricter, with the European Court of Auditors pointing out weaknesses in Procedure 42. Businesses must adapt supply chains or adopt technology to meet the new compliance thresholds.

EU Council has approved a temporary flat €3 customs duty per item for low‑value e‑commerce imports (≤€150) from third countries, effective 1 July 2026 until July 2028. The levy targets non‑EU sellers registered under the Import One‑Stop Shop, covering about 93 % of parcels, and is separate from VAT. It will be replaced by the EU Customs Data Hub in 2028, after which standard customs tariffs will apply.