Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

Belgium's federal government has decided to withdraw its plan to raise VAT on tickets for sports, cultural events, and takeaway meals. The decision was announced by Deputy Prime Minister David Clarinval. The Council of State had previously criticized the proposed changes.

The Court of Tax Appeals (Danıştay) issued decision 2025/19, 2025/21 on 12 Feb 2026 clarifying that real‑estate sales by corporate taxpayers held for at least two full years in their books are exempt from VAT, even when sold at auction. The ruling resolves a dispute between Konya and Istanbul regional courts and extends the exemption to auction sales.

A practical guide to structuring an e-invoicing RFP brief, covering company profiles, project objectives, compliance requirements (including FR 2026 and Poland KSeF), system landscapes, and governance — so vendors can deliver accurate, comparable proposals.

The Chilean Internal Revenue Service issued Letter No. 285 on Feb. 4, clarifying VAT rules for the special construction company credit (CEEC) and urban housing development. The letter confirms that CEEC can be requested at 32.5% or 16.25% if the development is related to housing, and that construction of social housing under state subsidies is not treated as a general construction contract aimed at housing.

e-Invoice.app offers a free e-Invoicing vendor matching tool that helps companies identify e‑invoicing solutions vendors based on their specific business profiles, existing ERP system, jurisdictional scope etc. The matching tool generates structured requirements from 90+ country mandates and business context, then matches vendors to create a shortlist, aiming to reduce compliance risk and accelerate procurement.

On 2 December 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the right to deduct VAT arises when a taxable transaction occurs, not when the invoice is received. The decision invalidates Polish rules that tie VAT deduction to invoice receipt, allowing businesses to claim VAT earlier if the invoice is received before the tax return deadline. The ruling is expected to improve cash flow for companies across the EU.

Turkiye has introduced new certification requirements for nondeductible VAT on certain import transactions effective 31 January 2026. Importers with semi‑annual import values above TRY 2.6 million must submit a Special‑Purpose Sworn‑in Certified Public Accountant Report, while those below must file a notification. The rules also allow a full tax‑certification agreement to waive the separate report if it confirms proper treatment.

The General Court ruled that Poland’s requirement of invoice possession for VAT deduction is incompatible with EU law. Polish taxpayers can now deduct VAT in the month of liability if the invoice was issued before the tax return submission, rather than waiting for the next accounting period. The decision is expected to accelerate VAT recovery and improve cash flow, especially under the mandatory KSeF e‑invoicing system.

The Russian Federal Tax Service announced that the filing deadline for Q1 2026 VAT returns is April 27, 2026. Taxpayers must use a new form that reflects a VAT rate increase to 22% from 20%, along with other changes.

The Estonian Parliament has accepted Bill No. 818 SE for consideration, which would lower the VAT rate on thermal energy supplies from 24% to 9%. The change would take effect on 1 January 2027 if the bill passes.

Ghana introduced a 12.5% VAT on non‑resident digital service providers to local consumers effective 1 April 2022. The law sets a GHS 200,000 annual turnover threshold for registration and requires monthly returns filed by the 21st of the following month. Non‑resident suppliers must appoint a resident representative or VAT agent to comply.

Ireland’s Revenue has identified the large corporates that will be subject to Phase One of the VAT Modernisation programme, requiring them to issue structured eInvoices from 1 November 2028. All Irish businesses must also be able to receive such eInvoices from the same date, ahead of the EU-wide ViDA cross‑border rules set for July 2030.

Nigeria is tightening VAT and withholding tax compliance by moving from retrospective audits to real‑time reporting of business transactions. The shift, part of a broader fiscalisation strategy, will give tax authorities direct visibility into transactions as they occur, starting with large taxpayers. The e‑invoicing platform will enhance existing filing systems and encourage participation through engagement and simulation portals.

The UK will require all VAT invoices to be e‑invoiced by 2029, mandating machine‑readable formats and accredited transmission. The article outlines the scope, Peppol alignment, and a step‑by‑step timeline for 2026‑2028 to help finance, IT and procurement prepare. It highlights key milestones such as selecting an access point, adopting a canonical data model, and piloting with trading partners.

The interview with Fabian Barth, VAT Manager at Alvarez & Marsal, discusses the challenges of obtaining binding rulings in the UK, recent Supreme Court VAT cases in 2025, and his view that legislative changes should allow public law arguments in tribunals. He notes that the Hotel La Tour and Prudential cases downplayed CJEU precedent, and that European case law remains binding but is not always applied.

Crowe Poland outlines draft amendments to Poland's VAT regime scheduled to take effect July 2026. Key changes include a VAT warehouse system, removal of duplicate inventory reporting, elimination of reporting for tax‑exempt purchases, and repeal of the 14‑day VAT payment rule for intra‑Community transport acquisitions. The amendments aim to simplify compliance and reduce VAT evasion risk.

The European Union has approved a flat €3 customs duty on low‑value parcels valued below €150, effective 1 July 2026, as a temporary measure before broader customs reform in 2028. The rule applies by item type rather than per box and aims to curb unfair competition from direct‑to‑consumer imports, especially from China.

The European General Court issued a preliminary ruling (Case No. T‑657/24) on 9 February 2026 clarifying that credit intermediaries are exempt from VAT only when they canvass and source customers for mortgage‑loan agreements and assist with preparatory work before agreements are concluded. A Portuguese credit intermediary’s commission‑based mortgage‑loan intermediation was challenged, and the court held that unless these conditions are met, the services are taxable.

On 12 February 2026 the Swiss Federal Supreme Court ruled that Chalet AG, a single‑asset company holding a St Moritz chalet, was used to avoid VAT and ordered repayment of CHF 865,000 in input‑tax credits. The decision clarifies that private‑use assets cannot claim broad VAT input credits and signals stricter scrutiny of form‑over‑substance structures in Switzerland.

The article discusses how AI is transforming tax compliance, moving from insight to execution in regulated workflows. It highlights the scale of U.S. sales and use tax obligations across 19,000 jurisdictions and the potential for AI to cut routine reporting work by up to 65%. The piece emphasizes that tax professionals will retain final accountability while focusing on advisory roles.