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.
They must hold a French VAT registration, appoint a fully accredited fiscal representative, or reroute supply chains to avoid France as the import Member State.
No, the exemption remains unchanged; only the compliance threshold to access it has tightened.
Poor verification of customer VAT IDs, limited cross‑checks between customs declarations and VAT reporting, and fragmented audit trails.
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News By Wire · about 16 hours ago
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.
KPMG · 1 day ago
France has introduced a temporary €2 small parcel tax on low‑value imports effective March 1 2026. The tax applies to parcels below €150, is levied per item at the time of import, and will remain in force until the EU‑wide parcel tax takes effect in November 2026, but no later than December 31 2026. The liable party is the person responsible for import VAT on the H7 declaration, covering IOSS users, French VAT registrants, and others.
Bloomberg Tax · 2 days ago
The French Administrative Court of Appeal of Paris issued Decision No. 25PA00785 on Feb. 4, 2026, clarifying that the ordinary law procedure for VAT refunds for taxable persons outside the EU does not apply when the taxpayer did not carry out transactions during the period. The UK company’s claim for an import VAT credit was partially denied by the Court of Montreuil and upheld by the Court of Appeal.
VatCalc · 8 days ago
The 2026 Finance Bill passed on 2 February 2026 establishes mandatory B2B e‑invoicing and B2C e‑reporting in France from 1 September 2026. Article 28 details the platform model, penalties, data transmission requirements and clarifies the roles of approved partner dematerialisation platforms and the Chorus Pro portal.
VatCalc · 8 days ago
The French 2026 Finance Bill introduces a €2 customs charge on low‑value imports (≤€150) from non‑EU countries, effective 2026, targeting e‑commerce parcels. The measure is expected to raise about €400 million annually and is part of broader EU customs reforms, including a €3 interim levy from 1 July 2026 and a planned €2 levy across the EU by 2028.
Bloomberg Tax · 9 days ago
The French Administrative Court of Appeal of Paris issued Decision No. 24PA02339 on Jan. 30, 2026, clarifying a company's liability for corporate income tax, social contributions, VAT, and payroll tax, and its eligibility for research tax credits. The court found the audit was not irregular and that a director’s driving course expense was not professional, granting only partial relief.
