Malawi will extend VAT to non-resident digital services from 1 April 2026, requiring foreign providers to charge the standard 17.5% rate. The new regime, announced in the 2026/27 Budget Policy Statement, also doubles the VAT registration threshold to MWK 50 million and covers services such as streaming, online advertising, e‑learning and digital content platforms.
The VATfaqs digest
Global VAT news, delivered Tuesday and Thursday. Free, curated from 50+ official sources, no spam.
No spam · Unsubscribe any time
DailyNewsEgypt · about 20 hours ago
Egypt's parliament approved amendments to the VAT law, cutting the VAT rate on medical devices to 5% and introducing a schedule tax on natural gas. The changes also reduce the refund period for credit balances, extend the suspension period for VAT payments on machinery and equipment, and provide faster refunds for certain small enterprises. The law will take effect the day after its publication in the Official Gazette.
VatCalc · 6 days ago
Lesotho has introduced mandatory VAT e‑invoicing under the Value Added Tax (E‑Invoicing) Regulations 2026, which came into force on 1 April 2026. From 1 August 2026 VAT‑registered businesses must use RSL‑accredited electronic invoicing and point‑of‑sale systems, transmit invoices with digital signatures and QR codes to the IDMS, and comply with strict penalties for non‑compliance.
VatCalc · 10 days ago
FIRS has announced a phased e‑invoicing and e‑reporting mandate in Nigeria, with the second wave becoming mandatory on 1 July 2026 for taxpayers with annual revenues between N1 bn and N5 bn. The authority will also introduce Peppol-based invoicing, implement the Automated Tax Administration System (ATAS) for audits, and impose soft‑landing penalties effective 2027. The final wave for small enterprises is planned for 1 July 2027.
Zawya · 10 days ago
Egypt’s Tax Authority has drafted VAT amendments that lower the rate on medical devices to 5% from 14% and exempt manufacturing inputs for dialysis equipment and kidney filters. The changes aim to reduce costs for healthcare providers and boost domestic medical manufacturing.
Daily News · 11 days ago
The Tanzanian government announced a VAT exemption for the construction of affordable houses costing up to 50 million Tanzanian shillings. The measure aims to attract local and foreign investment and increase private sector participation in housing development. The exemption applies to any housing project within the specified cost limit.
Kenyan Wallstreet · 14 days ago
Kenya’s Finance Bill 2026 proposes a VAT exemption for certain mobile phones, cutting the effective tax burden on imported devices from about 55% to 50%. The exemption would give imported phones a price advantage while local assemblers would lose the ability to recover VAT on inputs, raising their production costs and potentially making Kenyan‑assembled phones more expensive.
Put your brand alongside trusted tax-tech intelligence across 150+ countries.
Key Takeaways
From 1 April 2026, foreign providers must register and account for VAT at the standard rate of 17.5%.
The standard rate is 17.5% effective from the start of 2026.
It has been doubled to MWK 50 million.
Streaming, online advertising, e-learning, digital content platforms, including major providers like Netflix, Facebook, and YouTube.
In the 2026/27 Budget Policy Statement.
Primary source
Read the full article at VatCalcThis summary was published on VATfaqs.com on 18 March 2026. It relates to VAT developments in Malawi. The original source is VatCalc.
