The European Commission released the minutes from its 51st Group on the Future of VAT meeting, held on 3 March 2024, which discussed the ViDA package’s e‑invoicing, digital reporting, platform economy VAT and single VAT registration provisions. Key dates include the start of OSS guidelines on single VAT registration on 1 January 2027 and several upcoming GFV/VEG meetings in mid‑2026 that will shape the final Explanatory Notes for 2027.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation and a "Reality Check" event to shape the upcoming revision of EU e-invoicing rules, including the e-invoicing directive and EN 16931 standard. The consultation runs until 10 June 2026, while the interactive event is scheduled for 27 April 2026. The Commission expects the revised directive to be adopted in Q4 2026 as part of the Single Market Strategy.

The European Commission is advancing a deemed supplier regime for ride‑and‑accommodation platforms, with a voluntary launch in July 2028 and mandatory compliance by 1 January 2030. Draft explanatory notes were issued in Q1 2026, with final notes expected in Q2 2027, and the EC will confirm member‑state conditions by 31 December 2028. The regime also revises the short‑term accommodation definition to 30 days and will be evaluated for effectiveness by 1 July 2033.

The EU has proposed a law allowing governments to temporarily reduce VAT rates to counteract price rises, particularly in fuel, and protect citizens’ standard of living. The proposal is aimed at mitigating inflationary pressures in Montenegro and has broad political support. It follows examples such as Spain’s reduction of fuel VAT from 21% to 10%.

The EU Parliament has reopened debate on the optional reverse charge mechanism, which is set to expire on 31 December 2026. While the tool has proven effective in curbing missing trader intra‑community fraud in high‑risk sectors, concerns remain about VAT distortions and the need for complementary digital reporting controls. The review signals that reverse charge will stay part of the anti‑fraud toolkit but will be increasingly paired with real‑time transaction monitoring under the ViDA framework.

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.

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.

The EU VAT reforms tracker outlines a comprehensive schedule of upcoming legislative and compliance changes across the EU, including new VAT registration thresholds, e-invoicing requirements, import VAT liabilities, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Key dates range from 2025 to 2035, covering digital services, e-commerce, and cross‑border trade. The tracker serves as a reference for businesses to anticipate and adapt to evolving EU VAT rules.

The European Parliament and Council have agreed on a comprehensive reform of the EU Customs Code aimed at tackling the surge in e‑commerce parcels. Key measures include a new handling fee for individual parcels from non‑EU countries, treating e‑commerce platforms as importers, a new EU Customs Authority in Lille, and a customs data hub to be mandatory by 2034.

The article outlines a CFO-focused readiness scorecard for e-invoicing, highlighting gaps in regulatory awareness, technical infrastructure, process maturity, vendor coverage, and organisational alignment. It details key mandates in Belgium, France, and Germany, and stresses the importance of early assessment to avoid penalties and lengthy implementation cycles.

Usage‑based billing for AI and SaaS services introduces VAT compliance challenges that stem from system design rather than legal ambiguity. Key issues include the timing of VAT on prepayments, the treatment of free usage, and the risk of late VAT declaration when true‑ups are billed at year‑end. The EU Court of Justice’s ruling on unused airline tickets illustrates how tax authorities view the right to service as a taxable supply.

This blog post explains how SAF‑T can bridge the gap between real‑time e‑invoicing and periodic VAT returns, highlighting EU ViDA mandates, national e‑invoicing rules, and the role of SAF‑T in reconciling data. It details penalties in Poland, Romania’s cross‑validation pilot, and Italy’s fraud‑reduction success, underscoring the need for continuous data validation.

The European Commission has opened a public consultation to revise the EU e‑Invoicing Directive, offering three options that range from mandatory use of the EN 16931 standard for B2G transactions above thresholds to a full EU‑wide rollout with interoperability requirements and EU‑level governance. The consultation runs from 18 March to 10 June 2026 and seeks input on how to accelerate harmonisation ahead of the ViDA mandate, which will require structured e‑invoicing for intra‑EU B2B by July 2030.

This webinar, scheduled for March 26, 2026, will cover e‑invoicing and digital reporting obligations across Northern Europe, including Germany, Poland, the Nordics, and the Baltics. Participants will learn about upcoming timelines, the shift to real‑time compliance and CTC models, and practical steps for centralizing and automating reporting. The session aims to help organizations prepare for evolving regulatory requirements in the region.

The article examines the European Court of Justice ruling on loyalty programme vouchers, noting that while some advisers praised the court’s definition of a voucher for VAT purposes, a UK partner highlighted unanswered questions. It offers expert commentary on the implications for VAT compliance in the EU and the UK.

Governments worldwide are banning PDF invoices in favor of structured e-invoicing formats, with Belgium mandating Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 from 1 January 2026 and the EU’s ViDA regulation requiring structured invoices for all intra‑EU B2B transactions by July 2030. France, Germany, Poland, and India also have specific structured‑invoice mandates, creating a global shift toward machine‑readable data. The article explains the legal, operational, and cost implications of this transition for finance teams.

Fintua’s blog post outlines how digital platforms and marketplaces must shift to real‑time VAT compliance, driven by EU directives DAC7 and ViDA. It highlights the need for continuous transaction controls, platform liability to collect and remit VAT, and the challenges of reconciling data across jurisdictions such as Mexico and South Korea. The article stresses embedding compliance into systems and cross‑functional collaboration to meet evolving regulatory demands.

This article provides a comprehensive, region‑by‑region overview of e‑invoicing requirements, detailing mandatory formats, transmission protocols, and deadlines for each country. It highlights key national mandates such as Italy’s FatturaPA, France’s Factur‑X, Germany’s XRechnung, and India’s JSON‑based IRP system, offering a practical guide for businesses operating across borders.

The article discusses how e‑invoicing transforms VAT recovery on travel and entertainment expenses, highlighting the shift from manual, employee‑driven processes to automated, XML‑based workflows. It outlines the challenges of identifying T&E invoices, preventing duplicate payments, and the varying complexities across EU jurisdictions, and offers practical guidance for businesses to implement classification logic and align e‑invoicing with ERP transformations.