The Supreme Court of Korea ruled that fresh flower decorations supplied at hotel wedding venues are a provision of services, not a supply of goods, and therefore subject to VAT. The ruling overturned a lower court decision that had treated the decorations as exempt unprocessed agricultural products. As a result, the tax office assessed significant VAT amounts for Josun Hotel & Resort for 2018.
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Asia Business Daily · 6 months ago
South Korea’s National Tax Service has introduced a new filing requirement for VAT‑exempt business owners, including YouTubers, drivers, and delivery riders. All such owners must submit an annual business operation status report by February 10, 2025, and will receive mobile notifications starting on the 21st of the reporting month. The rule expands guidance to one‑person media creators and sets a 24 million won income threshold for certain personal service providers.
Bloomberg Tax · 6 months ago
The South Korean National Tax Service released a press statement outlining new VAT filing and payment deadlines. The main deadlines are Jan. 26 for filing and paying returns for the July–December 2025 period, and March 26 for an extended payment deadline for certain SMEs. Simplified taxpayers and businesses facing financial difficulties also receive automatic or optional extensions.
LuatVietnam · 1 day ago
Vietnam's new Circular No. 84/2026/TT-BTC, effective 1 July 2026, introduces an electronic VAT refund system for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese, requiring sellers to enter invoices electronically and comply with customs and tax authority integration.
DevDiscourse · 1 day ago
New Zealand: The government plans to mandate e-invoicing for large businesses supplying government agencies from 1 January 2027, aiming to cut costs and improve cash flow. The initiative is expected to generate up to NZ$800 million in annual savings by streamlining invoice processing and reducing administrative work.
Comarch · 2 days ago
Thailand's Cabinet approval of the OECD-led Global Minimum Tax exchange signals a shift toward mandatory e-invoicing. The move will require businesses to adopt the ETDA Standard 3-2560 XML schema and meet a 15-day transmission rule. The policy also offers a 200% double-tax deduction and a 1% electronic withholding tax rate until December 2027.
Manila Times · 2 days ago
Philippines: The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the VAT refund law for foreign tourists, confirming that the incentive is a valid policy measure to promote tourism. The law allows non-resident foreign tourists to claim VAT refunds on purchases of at least P3,000 per transaction from accredited retailers, provided the goods are taken out of the Philippines within 60 days of purchase.
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Key Takeaways
The Court ruled that they are a provision of services, not a supply of goods, and therefore subject to VAT.
The tax office assessed 97.85881 million won for the first half and 56.6051 million won for the second half of 2018.
They are considered incidental to wedding services and not exempt as unprocessed agricultural products.
They must treat the decorations as part of the wedding service and charge VAT accordingly.
Primary source
Read the full article at Seoul Economic DailyThis summary was published on VATfaqs.com on 24 May 2026. It relates to VAT developments in South Korea. The original source is Seoul Economic Daily.
