A leading global SaaS provider discovered that 10% of its customer tax IDs were missing or invalid, exposing over $9 million in potential annual VAT shortfalls. The article highlights gaps in the EU VIES system, varying validation frequency requirements across jurisdictions, and the operational benefits of automated tax ID validation.
More than $9 million in potential annual VAT shortfalls.
France 12%, Italy 17%, Portugal 61%, Poland 13%.
Verification is required for every transaction.
Between 10% and 20% of business IDs change in a single year.
Onboarding time dropped from seven hours to under five minutes, and 18% of tax IDs were flagged as invalid at collection.
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VatCalc · 6 days ago
The article explains how the upcoming ViDA framework will eliminate tolerance for inconsistencies between VAT determination, invoicing and reporting, pushing control to the transaction level. It highlights that intra‑EU transactions will require near real‑time digital reporting, and notes key future dates for reverse‑charge harmonisation and the withdrawal of the European Sales Listing. The piece also discusses the implications for triangulation and supply‑chain transactions and promotes a single‑engine solution for compliance.
Bloomberg Tax · 7 days ago
The European General Court issued an order on 21 January 2026 in Case No. T-394/25, upholding the EU VAT deemed supplier model that requires online platforms to collect and remit VAT for short‑term accommodation rentals. The court found the taxpayer’s challenge inadmissible under the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. This decision confirms the compliance obligations for platforms operating in the EU short‑term accommodation market.
Zanders Group · 8 days ago
The blog outlines emerging trends in intra‑group loan transfer pricing for 2026, highlighting recent court rulings in Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands that tighten documentation and credit‑rating requirements. It stresses the need for fact‑specific debt‑capacity analyses, robust credit‑rating methodologies, and clear contractual terms to mitigate audit risk. Multinationals should align loan terms with arm‑s‑length principles and document them comprehensively.
Capto · 8 days ago
The article introduces a robot that automates the validation of EU VAT numbers via the VIES API, reducing manual effort and errors. It outlines a four‑step process that extracts VAT numbers from any file format, checks them against the VIES database, generates a PDF and Excel report, and emails the results. The service promises faster, 100% accurate validation and frees users to focus on higher‑value tasks.
Fincargo · 14 days ago
The ViDA directive amends Article 217 of the EU VAT Directive, requiring electronic invoices to be issued, transmitted, and received in structured formats such as XML, EDI, or Factur‑X. Effective 31 December 2030, the directive also removes the need for recipient acceptance and will trigger automatic pre‑filling of tax data, creating a velocity mismatch for businesses that still park invoices. Companies must transition to structured formats and reconcile pre‑filled data with their own books to avoid audit issues.
PwC Malta · 15 days ago
The European Commission’s ViDA strategy outlines a phased reform of VAT systems across the EU, introducing real‑time digital reporting, mandatory e‑invoicing, and platform‑economy rules. Key milestones include legislative clarifications (2025‑2027), platform rules for accommodation and transport (2028), mandatory e‑invoicing for intra‑EU B2B (2030), and full harmonisation of digital reporting (2035). The reforms aim to save businesses €51 billion and reduce fraud by up to €11 billion annually.
