The February 2026 Global VAT Guide provides a concise overview of recent VAT and e‑invoicing developments across Europe, the EU, Japan and Mexico. Key updates include Belgium’s new place‑of‑supply rules for virtual events, Croatia’s extended VAT return deadline, the Czech Republic’s InstatEvo transition, a temporary €3 customs duty on low‑value goods in the EU, and changes to Belgium’s federal tax payment BIC code.
Belgium adopted Bill DOC 56 1077/001 on 5 Dec 2025, aligning the place of supply for virtual events with the customer’s location, effective immediately.
The duty starts on 1 Jul 2026 and will remain until 2028 when a permanent system replaces it.
The deadline is extended from EOP + 20 days to EOP + 1 month.
InstatEvo replaces InstatDesk effective 1 Jan 2026, with no new registration required.
The BIC code GEBABEBB must be used from 15 Dec 2025 onward.
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Grant Thornton · about 5 hours ago
The article reviews recent EU Court of Justice rulings that clarify the VAT treatment of transfer‑pricing adjustments in intragroup transactions. It explains that payments calculated under OECD methods may be treated as VAT‑subjected remuneration for services, while unilateral profit allocations are generally outside VAT scope. The piece also highlights the pending Stellantis Portugal opinion and the need for businesses to document services and support evidence to secure VAT recoverability.
Meridian Global Services · about 5 hours ago
The OECD’s 2026 report outlines guidance on Digital Continuous Transactional Reporting (DCTR), urging jurisdictions to adopt real‑time VAT transaction reporting and structured e‑invoicing. It highlights the EU’s ViDA initiative, slated for rollout by 2030, and the requirement for intra‑EU invoicing interoperability by 2035. Businesses are advised to modernise ERP and billing systems, improve data quality, and strengthen security to meet the forthcoming digital compliance landscape.
LinkedIn Article by Rui Marques · about 5 hours ago
The article discusses the EU’s longstanding VAT exemption for financial services, noting that the exemption was introduced in 1977 and remains in place across EU member states, Iceland, and the UK. It reviews the European Parliament’s February 2026 draft report, which calls for modernising the tax framework, highlights the 91 sector‑specific taxes that have emerged, and explores options such as abolishing the exemption for B2B services or differentiating between B2B and B2C. The piece underscores the hidden costs, market distortions, and competitiveness concerns that the current exemption creates.
VatCalc · 2 days ago
CEN approved an updated EN 16931‑1 e‑invoicing standard on 13 February 2026, adding new mandatory fields for B2B transactions and aligning with the July 2030 Digital Reporting Requirements. The revision supports both B2B and B2G use, enabling ViDA users to comply without costly system rebuilds.
HelloTax · 3 days ago
This guide explains the EU-wide €10,000 distance‑selling threshold for cross‑border B2C sales and how it is affected by multi‑country storage. It also covers the 2025 SME VAT exemption scheme and the implications for local VAT registration and OSS use when goods are stored in multiple EU countries.
Darkopavic · 4 days ago
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.
