India's GST Council has granted an exemption on individual life and health insurance premiums, removing the 18% GST. The decision, announced in a written reply on 5 February 2026, covers all individual policies including family floater plans. IRDAI confirmed that insurers have passed the benefit to policyholders without raising premiums.

The Advisory Council in Bangladesh has approved a waiver of the 7.5% VAT and 2% advance tax on domestic LPG at local production and trading stages, effective from 5 February 2026. The waiver retains only a 7.5% VAT at the import stage, aiming to reduce the overall tax burden on LPG and potentially lower retail prices.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that Spain cannot impose a stricter “directly and exclusively” requirement on VAT exemptions for services supplied by independent groups of persons. The decision clarifies that services must be directly necessary for the exempt activity, but exclusivity is not required, allowing general services such as cleaning to qualify. The ruling also states that competition distortion must be assessed on a concrete basis, not presumed.

KPMG’s weekly update highlights two contrasting VAT rulings on hair loss treatments and a key import‑VAT recovery case. The UK Tax Tribunal zero‑rated the Kinsey system for female hair loss as a service of adapting goods for a disabled person, while a surgical hair transplant was standard‑rated as cosmetic. The Yourway Transport decision clarified that a taxpayer can recover import VAT on drugs moved to other Member States when acting as an agent and deemed owner under s47.

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.