The Swedish Finance Department has issued Directive Dir. 2026:9 to modernise VAT rules and strengthen anti‑fraud measures. It mandates a special investigator to assess how EU VAT rules for the digital age will be implemented in Swedish law, including digital reporting based on electronic invoicing for cross‑border transactions. The investigation must be reported by 30 November 2027.

China’s Ministry of Finance issued Announcement No. 11 on 31 January 2026, establishing new VAT and consumption tax rules for exported goods and cross‑border services. The announcement, effective 1 January 2026, sets criteria for VAT exemption, outlines refund rates and formulas, specifies consumption‑tax exemptions, and requires export tax refunds to be claimed within 36 months. It also repeals earlier notices.

The 2026 Finance Bill passed on 2 February 2026 establishes mandatory B2B e‑invoicing and B2C e‑reporting in France from 1 September 2026. Article 28 details the platform model, penalties, data transmission requirements and clarifies the roles of approved partner dematerialisation platforms and the Chorus Pro portal.

Poland’s Ministry of Finance clarified that non‑resident businesses are subject to KSeF e‑invoicing only if they have a Polish fixed establishment (SMPD/FE) that participates in the specific supply. The rule, effective 1 February 2026, does not trigger on a Polish VAT registration alone and requires a full assessment of the fixed establishment’s involvement per transaction.

Italy’s 2026 Budget Law introduces a €2 handling fee for low‑value shipments (≤ €150) from non‑EU countries, effective 1 January 2026. The fee applies to all business models and is collected by the Customs and Monopolies Agency upon final importation, with a transitional payment deferral for January and February 2026. Businesses must adjust customs declarations, accounting, and documentation to comply.

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.

The French 2026 Finance Bill introduces a €2 customs charge on low‑value imports (≤€150) from non‑EU countries, effective 2026, targeting e‑commerce parcels. The measure is expected to raise about €400 million annually and is part of broader EU customs reforms, including a €3 interim levy from 1 July 2026 and a planned €2 levy across the EU by 2028.

ATAF presented African viewpoints on VAT treatment of crypto assets and internationally traded services at the OECD Global Forum on VAT in Paris. The presentations highlighted practical, implementable approaches, clear VAT models for token exchange, and the development of a regional toolkit for non‑resident suppliers. The event underscored the importance of regional coordination and stakeholder engagement to align African realities with global VAT policy.

Croatia's Official Gazette published Ordinance No. 90, amending the VAT Ordinance. The ordinance introduces new reporting requirements for food donations, updates vehicle registration procedures to require proof of VAT payment, simplifies VAT documentation for nonresidents, clarifies invoice issuance rules, extends filing deadlines, and amends information reporting for specified goods.