Russia will exempt cryptocurrency exchange and custody services from value‑added tax, covering ancillary services related to issuance and trading of digital currencies. The bill, expected to be adopted by July 1 2026, also sets corporate tax rules for platform profits and allows traders to offset acquisition costs against income, though losses cannot be carried forward.

Slovakia is drafting legislation to extend its domestic reverse charge regime to high‑risk B2B services such as IT, advertising and consultancy. The new rules would shift VAT liability to the customer and would only take effect once Slovakia secures a derogation from Article 193 of the EU VAT Directive. Businesses should prepare for customer‑side VAT accounting, stricter VAT ID checks and ERP updates.

EU Parliament has tabled more than 200 amendments to its draft report on a coherent tax framework for the financial sector, with VAT reform at the centre. The proposals aim to narrow the long‑standing VAT exemption for financial services, tax fee‑based B2B services, consolidate the Insurance Premium Tax into VAT, and modernise rules for neobanks, crypto and other digital financial services. A parliamentary vote is scheduled for 26 April 2026, with a vote expected in May and potential plenary adoption in June.

AI sales tax blog post discusses how U.S. states are treating SaaS and AI chatbot services under existing sales tax frameworks. It highlights recent rulings in Kentucky, Indiana, Maine, and New York, noting that some states tax SaaS as a service while others exempt it. The article also explores potential future tax implications for AI‑powered physical products and advises businesses to monitor state developments closely.

The European Commission will host a public workshop on 27 April 2026 to review the revision of Directive 2014/55/EU on e‑invoicing in public procurement. The event will outline potential policy measures, gather stakeholder feedback, and discuss the three policy options for the revision. The outcome will influence upcoming compliance requirements, including the ViDA reform that will mandate structured e‑invoicing for intra‑EU B2B transactions by July 2030.

The article examines how fully automated, AI‑run companies—termed zero‑person companies—challenge existing VAT rules. It explains that while such entities can perform all operational tasks, they still require a human link for legal accountability, and their place of establishment for VAT purposes is determined by where central administration effectively occurs, often defaulting to the registered office. The piece also discusses the low likelihood of fixed establishments arising solely from cloud infrastructure and outlines compliance implications for tax authorities.

New Zealand’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) is highlighted as a model consumption tax, featuring a single 15% rate, minimal exemptions, and a broad base that yields a stable revenue stream. The system’s simplicity reduces compliance burdens and has been praised for its efficiency and neutrality. Key innovations include zero‑rating business‑to‑business financial services and excluding most crypto assets from GST.