Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

Azerbaijan has announced a mandatory VAT regime for digital services supplied by non‑resident providers, requiring them to register, charge VAT and file returns. The scope covers software, SaaS, cloud, streaming, digital content, online advertising, digital marketing, platform access and other automated services. Detailed thresholds, filing frequency and administrative requirements are still pending clarification.

Turkey’s Revenue Administration proposes a phased reduction of the Digital Services Tax (DST) from 7.5% to 5% in January 2026 and further to 2.5% in January 2027. The DST applies to digital service providers exceeding a global revenue threshold of EUR 750 million or local revenue of TRY 20 million, with strict monthly reporting and no deductions allowed. Exemptions require an independent auditor report and are subject to strict thresholds.

China’s State Administration of Taxation has rolled out a mandatory marketplace reporting regime that requires digital platforms to submit structured merchant-level data to tax authorities. The new rules, effective from October 2025, have already increased tax visibility and collections by 13% from online sellers and are expected to tighten compliance for e‑commerce operators. The regime aligns China with global standards such as DAC7 and imposes penalties of up to RMB 500,000 for non‑compliance.

VATCalc explains how the EU’s 2028 Customs Reform will eliminate the €150 low‑value threshold, expand platform liability, and require real‑time, transaction‑level VAT determination and reporting. The article argues that legacy VAT systems are ill‑suited and that a single, legislative‑coded engine is essential to meet the new harmonised import VAT model across all 27 Member States. It highlights the need for rapid, integrated compliance to avoid penalties and operational risk.

The article reports that Pima County voters will decide on March 10, 2026 whether to extend a half‑cent transportation sales tax (Propositions 418 and 419) to fund a $2.67 billion, 20‑year transportation plan. Public meetings and Q&A sessions are scheduled in January and February to explain the plan’s allocations for road expansion, pavement rehabilitation and transit.

France has proposed raising its VAT registration thresholds for goods, services, legal services, and non‑profit organisations, but the changes are currently on hold pending budget approval. The new thresholds would be €93,500 for goods and accommodation services, €41,250 for services, €55,000 for legal services, and €80,011 for non‑profit organisations, with an EU‑wide scheme offering a €100,000 pan‑Europe threshold for small businesses.

The EU’s VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) reforms are accelerating the shift toward transaction‑level digital reporting, mandatory e‑invoicing, and real‑time compliance. Legacy ERP tax engines struggle to adapt to the fragmented, rapidly evolving national implementations, while VATCalc’s legislatively‑coded, serverless architecture offers a scalable, integrated solution. Businesses must evaluate whether their tax engine can pivot quickly without repeated reinvestment to meet ViDA’s requirements.

Bulgaria will adopt the euro on 1 January 2026, triggering new VAT thresholds expressed in euros. The National Revenue Agency will enforce price monitoring and dual‑pricing rules to prevent profiteering during the currency transition.

This guide outlines France’s VAT framework, including standard and reduced rates, registration thresholds, and upcoming e‑invoicing requirements. It also details compliance obligations for non‑resident businesses, digital services, and import VAT deferment schemes.

Miami County, Ohio, is proposing a 0.5% sales tax increase to fund a new maximum‑security jail, with the measure slated for the May 2026 ballot. Commissioners are holding public tours of the aging facility from January to April 2026 to build support for the tax and highlight the need for modern infrastructure.

The UAE Federal Tax Authority announced key updates to VAT and excise tax regulations, including new service fee amendments effective 1 January 2026, a final filing deadline of 28 January 2026 for VAT returns, and clarified requirements for conformity certificates and a tiered volumetric model for sweetened drinks.

Colombia will impose a 10% VAT on gasoline and diesel from Jan 1 2026, alongside a 90‑peso per gallon gasoline and 99‑peso per gallon diesel price adjustment. The government also raised the minimum wage by 22.7% to 1.75 million pesos, while inflation is projected to stay above 4% by year‑end, prompting potential price‑control measures.

The UK’s new ‘taxi tax’ imposes a 20% VAT on minicab fares, but Uber has restructured driver contracts from January 2026 to act as an agent, shifting VAT responsibility to drivers. Most drivers earn below £90 k and therefore do not charge VAT, keeping fares outside London unchanged, while London fares remain subject to VAT.

Colombia’s government has shifted the 19% value‑added tax on online gambling from deposits to gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the 2026 fiscal year. The emergency decree, issued after the 2025 Financing Bill failed, re‑allocates the tax to GGR, reducing the effective burden on operators from up to 70% of real income to about 34% of gross revenue. The change is expected to fill a COP16.3 trillion budget gap for 2026 but may face legal challenges.

The webinar highlighted the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on state budgets, the ongoing Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, and specific sales‑tax challenges in California and Illinois. Key issues include federal conformity decisions, new California TTA rules, and Illinois’ remote‑seller amnesty and Chicago’s personal‑property lease tax adjustments.

KPMG US publication on indirect tax topics.

The article lists a series of VAT and GST rate changes set to take effect on 1 January 2026 across multiple jurisdictions, including the removal of reduced rates for accommodation in the Netherlands, new reduced rates in Finland and Lithuania, and standard rate increases in Zimbabwe and Malawi. It highlights the need for businesses to update pricing, invoicing, and compliance systems in anticipation of these changes.

Belgium will introduce mandatory e-invoicing from 1 January 2026. This change will affect businesses operating in Belgium and will require them to adopt e-invoicing systems. The move is expected to improve efficiency and reduce errors in invoicing processes.

Greece's parliament has passed a bill mandating electronic invoicing for business-to-business transactions, with incentives available for entities that adopt e-invoicing early. The requirement applies to domestic B2B transactions, exports to non-EU destinations, and public contracts.

The SME scheme allows small enterprises to sell goods and services without charging VAT to their customers and alleviates their VAT compliance obligations. The scheme is optional and applicable to small enterprises with a total annual turnover of no more than EUR 100,000 in all Member States.