Ireland's Revenue has confirmed that large corporates will be required to issue structured e‑invoices for domestic B2B transactions from 1 November 2028, as part of the phased rollout of the EU ViDa e‑invoicing and real‑time reporting initiative. The regime will expand to all cross‑border EU B2B transactions benefiting from 0% VAT in Phase Two (November 2029) and to all cross‑border B2B transactions under the EU directive from 1 July 2030.

The February 2026 Global VAT Guide provides a concise overview of recent VAT and e‑invoicing developments across Europe, the EU, Japan and Mexico. Key updates include Belgium’s new place‑of‑supply rules for virtual events, Croatia’s extended VAT return deadline, the Czech Republic’s InstatEvo transition, a temporary €3 customs duty on low‑value goods in the EU, and changes to Belgium’s federal tax payment BIC code.

The article reviews recent EU Court of Justice rulings that clarify the VAT treatment of transfer‑pricing adjustments in intragroup transactions. It explains that payments calculated under OECD methods may be treated as VAT‑subjected remuneration for services, while unilateral profit allocations are generally outside VAT scope. The piece also highlights the pending Stellantis Portugal opinion and the need for businesses to document services and support evidence to secure VAT recoverability.

The article discusses the EU’s longstanding VAT exemption for financial services, noting that the exemption was introduced in 1977 and remains in place across EU member states, Iceland, and the UK. It reviews the European Parliament’s February 2026 draft report, which calls for modernising the tax framework, highlights the 91 sector‑specific taxes that have emerged, and explores options such as abolishing the exemption for B2B services or differentiating between B2B and B2C. The piece underscores the hidden costs, market distortions, and competitiveness concerns that the current exemption creates.

China's Ministry of Finance announced a phased rollback of VAT export rebates for battery products, cutting the rebate from 9% to 6% from April 2026 to December 2026 and eliminating it entirely from January 2027. Photovoltaic product rebates will also be scrapped from April 2026. The move is expected to squeeze margins for exporters unless they can pass costs to overseas buyers, with industry experts forecasting gradual price increases of 2–3% for power batteries and 2–4% for energy storage batteries.

China has lowered the import VAT on 16 agricultural products, including refined sunflower and rapeseed oils, from 13% to 9% effective 2 February 2026. A new tariff line 1512190010 was created for refined sunflower oil, and the change applies to a range of oils and fats. Products imported from the USA remain subject to retaliatory MFN tariffs.

Poland's Ministry of Finance has opened a consultation on draft explanations for a VAT exemption covering defense-related supplies financed by the EU SAFE instrument amid the Russia‑Ukraine conflict. The exemption permits suppliers to deduct VAT paid at the preceding stage, requires a VAT exemption certificate stamped by the competent authority of the purchasing entity’s EU country, and applies to the final transaction in the supply chain as well as to supplies and intra‑Community acquisitions.

Gibraltar will introduce a 15% Transaction Tax on goods imported or manufactured locally from 10 April 2026, rising to 17% by 2028, as part of a post‑Brexit agreement with Spain to keep open borders. The new tax replaces Gibraltar’s long‑standing VAT‑free regime and includes reduced, zero‑rated, and exempt categories for specific goods and services.

The Ukrainian government is drafting a major bill to raise the VAT registration threshold for individual entrepreneurs from UAH 1 million to UAH 4 million, potentially submitting it to parliament in March. The bill also includes changes to parcel taxation, digital platform taxation, and a fixed military levy of 5%. Implementation dates are pending, with the threshold possibly taking effect after the war ends or Ukraine joins the EU.