The article reviews progress on the EU's ViDA VAT reform pillars, noting technical discussions from the 42nd VAT Expert Group and Future of VAT Group meetings. It highlights key dates such as the 13 February 2026 approval of EN16931, the 1 January 2027 effective date for Phase 1 Single VAT Registration changes, and the €10,000 threshold debate. While the Digital Reporting Requirements pillar is slated for July 2030 and the Platform Economy pillar for July 2028–January 2030, implementation details remain unsettled.

Germany has released new versions of its e‑invoicing standards, including Peppol, KoSIT, and ZUGFeRD, to improve cross‑border interoperability and simplify implementation. The updates introduce a Central Settlement (ZR) framework, gross invoice processing for specific sectors, and updated reference templates for various transaction types.

The article analyzes over 200 e-invoicing vendors across 120+ countries, revealing a highly fragmented market where most vendors specialize in a single country or compliance model. It highlights that 15+ countries have e-invoicing deadlines in 2026 and identifies five distinct compliance models worldwide, underscoring the need for multinational buyers to evaluate vendors by model coverage rather than country count.

Singapore’s GST InvoiceNow e‑invoicing mandate, effective November 2025, requires all GST‑registered businesses to transmit invoices through the national InvoiceNow network using structured XML standards such as SG Peppol BIS or PINT‑SG and to report invoice data to IRAS. The article outlines buyer and supplier responsibilities, handling of exceptions (PDF, cross‑border, inter‑company) and stresses the need for robust process controls and compliance confidence.

Italy's 2026 Budget Law introduces a 2% AgCom contribution on Italian‑sourced digital, media and platform revenues, effective March 2026. The levy applies to both Italian and non‑Italian entities, with per‑mille rates ranging from 0.05% to 0.2% across activity categories and a €100 de‑minimis threshold. Filing is required via AgCom's electronic portal, with penalties up to €130,000 for non‑compliance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree launching a pilot program that allows importers to defer VAT payments by up to three months, interest‑free. The program applies only to goods imported from outside the Eurasian Economic Union and is available to companies meeting specific eligibility criteria. It will run until June 30, 2027.

Poland’s parliament is reviewing a draft bill to temporarily zero‑rate domestic food items, excluding imports, from 1 April to 31 December 2026. The proposal would reduce the current 5 % VAT on a defined list of staple foods to 0 %, mirroring earlier COVID‑era cuts. Imported food would not benefit from the relief.

Spain’s Council of Ministers approved Royal Decree 238/2026 mandating structured B2B e-invoicing and 4‑day real‑time reporting. The phased rollout will start on 1 Oct 2027 for large firms (€8 m+ turnover) and extend to all taxpayers by 1 Oct 2028, with payment status reporting added in 2029. The regime requires EN 16931‑UBL invoices, a faithful copy to the public system, and a free public platform built by the Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria.

The European Commission released the minutes from its 51st Group on the Future of VAT meeting, held on 3 March 2024, which discussed the ViDA package’s e‑invoicing, digital reporting, platform economy VAT and single VAT registration provisions. Key dates include the start of OSS guidelines on single VAT registration on 1 January 2027 and several upcoming GFV/VEG meetings in mid‑2026 that will shape the final Explanatory Notes for 2027.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation and a "Reality Check" event to shape the upcoming revision of EU e-invoicing rules, including the e-invoicing directive and EN 16931 standard. The consultation runs until 10 June 2026, while the interactive event is scheduled for 27 April 2026. The Commission expects the revised directive to be adopted in Q4 2026 as part of the Single Market Strategy.