Austria has increased its Intrastat reporting thresholds for 2026. From 1 January 2026, the arrivals threshold rises to €5 million per annum and the dispatch threshold to €1.2 million per annum. Statistical thresholds remain at €12 million for both arrivals and dispatches.

The Swiss federal government plans to increase VAT by 0.8 percentage points over a decade (2028‑2038) to raise CHF 31 bn for defence. The proposal requires a constitutional amendment, a new armaments fund law, and a national referendum in summer 2027. Consultation ends in May, with only the Centre party supporting the measure.

Sweden’s Riksdag approved a temporary reduction of the VAT rate on food from 12% to 6% effective 1 April 2026, lasting until 31 December 2027. The change aims to support household finances during the period.

France will enforce a comprehensive e‑invoicing and e‑reporting regime from 1 September 2026. Large and mid‑size enterprises must issue and receive electronic invoices immediately, while SMEs and micro‑enterprises will join the rollout in 2027. The reform covers domestic B2B, B2C, and cross‑border transactions, with special rules for overseas territories.

Belgium’s VAT chain reform introduces a new VAT provision account effective 1 May 2026, replacing the current account and changing account numbers. The summer regime for late filing will be abolished, and taxpayers can request historic VAT credits via MyMinfin. Key dates are 30 April 2026 for return submission and 1 May 2026 for the new account and credit transfer.

Belgium’s VAT chain reform introduces a new VAT provision account effective 1 May 2026, replacing the current account and changing account numbers. Credit balances will transfer automatically if all periodic returns are filed by 30 April 2026, and the historic VAT credit can be claimed via MyMinfin. The summer regime is abolished, and the new account number BE41 6792 0036 4210 will be used for payments.

From 23 August 2026, non‑resident providers of digital services to Azerbaijani consumers must register with the tax administration and charge 18% VAT, replacing the previous withholding‑tax regime. The VAT registration threshold is AZN 17,000 per annum, and the current VAT rate of 18% applies to all domestically supplied digital services. Implementation guidance and FAQs are expected before the August deadline.

Slovakia is implementing significant amendments to its VAT Act effective 1 April 2026, targeting high‑risk taxpayers. The changes grant the tax authority expanded powers, including extended registration deadlines, mandatory record‑keeping, and a presumption of cessation of activity. From 1 January 2027, a VAT guarantee mechanism will allow the authority to require customers to pay VAT directly to a special account, with guarantees ranging from €5,000 to €500,000.

France's 2026 Finance Law introduces several VAT changes, including extending the 5.5% reduced rate to refrigeration energy and air transport in overseas departments, proroguing the 10% forestry rate until 2028, and tightening e‑invoicing sanctions. It also mandates electronic invoice reception for all VAT‑registered entities from 1 September 2026 and replaces the CGI with the new CIBS code for VAT from the same date.

Turkey’s new 19‑article bill introduces a 0.3% transaction tax on crypto trades and a 20% special consumption tax on diamonds, while explicitly exempting crypto transactions from VAT. The proposal also removes certain tax deductions and adjusts other tax exemptions, marking a significant shift in the country’s fiscal framework.

Japan is considering a temporary withdrawal of the 8% reduced consumption tax on food for up to two years, with the bill slated for the Autumn 2026 Diet session. The move would cut annual tax revenue by about ¥5 trillion, while the current standard rate remains 10% with an 8% reduced rate for food. The ruling LDP has resisted the cut, citing the tax's importance for funding social security.

Singapore’s GST InvoiceNow e‑invoicing mandate will extend to all GST‑registered businesses with a phased rollout from 1 April 2028 to 1 April 2031, based on annual supply thresholds. Early adopter windows for voluntary registrants began in May 2025, with mandatory transmission required for new registrants by April 2026. The requirement uses the Peppol standard and exempts overseas entities and reverse‑charge‑only registrants.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana raised South Africa’s VAT registration threshold from R1 million to R2.3 million in the 2026 budget speech, easing compliance burdens for SMBs and encouraging digital growth. The move removes a key growth constraint and signals a broader push toward digitalisation and innovation.

Namibia’s 2026/27 Budget confirms a mandatory e-invoicing regime for VAT‑registered businesses, with a likely launch in 2028 or later. The system will be a real‑time clearance model integrated with the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS), initially covering B2B transactions and potentially expanding to B2C retail. The current VAT rate remains 15%.

On 12 February 2026, Italy’s Revenue Agency aligned its VAT rules with EU law, allowing special purpose vehicles in merger‑leveraged buyouts to deduct input VAT on transaction costs. Resolution No. 7/2026 confirms these SPVs as VAT‑taxable entities, following Supreme Court rulings in August 2024 that recognised their preparatory role. The change restores VAT neutrality and opens a refund window for historical VAT leakage.

South Africa’s 2026 Budget lifts the VAT registration threshold from R1 million to R2.3 million, easing compliance for small businesses. The announcement also notes a 21‑cent per litre increase in fuel levies, while the threshold had remained frozen for fifteen years. The move is seen as a relief for SMEs but is framed within broader fiscal and infrastructure challenges.

The Swedish Parliament approved a temporary cut of the food VAT rate from 12% to 6% effective 1 April 2026 until 31 December 2027. A food commission will monitor supermarket prices to ensure savings are passed on, and the measure is part of a broader economic package that includes increased housing allowances for low‑income families.

Croatia has extended its VAT reduction on heating and gas until 31 March 2027. The heating VAT remains at 5% (down from 25%) and gas VAT is temporarily cut to 5% before returning to 13%. The cuts cost about €289 million.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sought to double the VAT exemption for personal online imports to $150, but lawmakers rejected the proposal. He subsequently signed an order raising the exemption to $130, a move that has been appealed to Israel's top court. The change affects the VAT treatment of online purchases by Israeli consumers.

British Columbia will broaden its Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to include a range of professional services from 1 October 2026, maintaining a 7% rate that, combined with the federal 5% GST, brings the total tax on most supplies to 12%. For architectural, engineering and geoscience services, PST will apply to only 30% of the purchase price. Service providers in the new scope must register for PST and prepare to charge, collect and remit the tax, with further administrative guidance to follow.