Germany's Annual Tax Act 2026 introduces significant VAT reforms, including a shift to application-based VAT grouping and changes to non-monetary supply taxation. Key changes take effect from 1 January 2027, with the VAT grouping reform applying from 1 January 2029, requiring businesses to apply electronically.

UK: The First-tier Tribunal ruled that HBS Enterprises Ltd, a UK-established business, remains liable for VAT on marketplace sales, despite HMRC’s misclassification as a non-established taxable person. The ruling confirms that the deemed supplier provision does not apply when the vendor is established in the UK, and that double taxation is avoided.

The United Arab Emirates has designated Comarch as an Accredited Service Provider for its upcoming e-invoicing mandate. The company will act as a Trust Anchor, managing secure data transmission and real-time clearance for businesses. The January 2027 deadline and penalty of AED 5,000 for non-appointment underscore the urgency.

The EU Court of Justice has ruled that a person liable for VAT in one member state cannot also be held jointly and severally liable for VAT owed by an entity established in another member state. This decision clarifies cross-border VAT liability rules within the EU. The ruling applies to Greek cases and other EU member states.

The EU One Stop Shop (OSS) is a VAT scheme that allows businesses to register in one member state and file a single quarterly return for cross-border B2C sales. It applies to EU-based companies with aggregate sales above €10,000 and to non-EU businesses with a fixed establishment in the EU. The scheme simplifies compliance but does not replace domestic VAT returns.

Finland's Tax Board clarified the VAT treatment of e-commerce payment services in a preliminary decision effective from 28 April 2026. The ruling distinguishes between taxable factoring services for the provider's own payment methods, VAT-subject technical API services, and VAT-exempt payment processing from external providers.

Romania: The grace period for small and micro-enterprises under €500,000 ends on 1 July 2026, imposing full compliance audits and fines. B2C transactions now require invoices outside the RO-eFactura system unless the customer registers, with a 13-zero code mandatory.

The UK will require all VAT invoices to be issued in a specified electronic format from 1 April 2029, covering B2B and B2G transactions. Peppol will serve as the core interoperability network, and NHS England already mandates PEPPOL-compliant invoicing for its suppliers.

South Africa's VAT framework for electronic services now has a new registration threshold for non-resident providers, effective from 1 April 2026. The threshold rises to ZAR 2.3 million on a 12-month basis, with a voluntary threshold of ZAR 120 000, and non-resident providers must register by the end of any month where supplies exceed the threshold.

Canada's Tax Court clarified on 26 June 2026 that the GST/HST new housing rebate requires a clear intention to use a property as a primary residence. The decision, issued as Decision No. 2026 TCC 122, applied to an individual who purchased two condominium units and claimed the rebate.

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.

Norway will require importers to lodge customs declarations before goods reach the border, with full enforcement from 1 March 2027. Digitoll's Phase one goes live on 15 September 2026, mandating digital compliance, while customs warehouses will also need pre-entry declarations from 1 March 2027.

The UK HMRC announces simplification of the Capital Goods Scheme effective 29 July 2026. Computers and computer equipment will be excluded and the expenditure threshold for land, buildings and civil engineering work rises to £600,000.

UAE businesses must prepare for mandatory electronic invoicing, with the UAE Ministry of Finance recognising VAT IT as a pre-approved service provider. Companies with annual revenue above AED 50 million must appoint an accredited service provider by 30 October 2026 and be fully compliant by 1 January 2027, while those with revenue of AED 50 million or less must appoint by 31 March 2027 and comply by 1 July 2027.

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.

Guinea has introduced a digital services tax of 3% for foreign digital service providers, effective from 21 May 2026, with a 12-month transitional rate. After the transitional period, rates will vary between 1.5% and 7% depending on the type of service, and non-resident providers must appoint a local tax agent within 90 days.

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.

EU: ViDA, the Council Directive (EU) 2025/516, will harmonise digital reporting for B2B transactions from 1 July 2030, affecting national reporting systems. Existing real-time reporting systems in force before 1 January 2024 may transition by 2035, while new systems introduced after that date must comply by 1 July 2030. Member states retain limited authority for B2C reporting and other non-harmonised obligations.