Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

South Africa’s tax authority, SARS, has confirmed a multi‑year plan to roll out mandatory e‑invoicing and real‑time VAT digital reporting. The phased approach will begin with system design and pilot engagement through 2026, followed by onboarding of large VAT taxpayers and priority sectors between 2026 and 2029. The reform aims to transform VAT administration into a seamless, data‑driven process where compliance is automated and risk is detected at the point of transaction.

The Finance (No. 2) Bill 2024‑26 has been amended in Committee and will return to the House of Commons for further stages. Scotland will introduce a new Air Departure Tax on 1 April 2027, replacing APD, with a consultation closing 26 March 2026. Deloitte’s Advance Tax Certainty service will become operational from July 2026, while the OECD Global Forum on VAT met in January 2026 to discuss digital economy and near real‑time data collection.

Ireland’s Revenue has confirmed a phased launch of mandatory B2B e‑invoicing and e‑reporting, starting with large corporations in November 2028 and expanding to all taxpayers by November 2029. The EU‑wide ViDA e‑invoicing system for intra‑community transactions will come into force in July 2030. The initiative follows a public consultation that ran from 13 October 2023 to 31 January 2024.