Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

Malaysia’s Inland Revenue Board (IRBM) has issued several updates to its e‑invoicing guidelines, expanding the use of consolidated invoices for construction materials, extending grace periods for small businesses, and tightening rules for electricity and telecom services. Full compliance is now required by 1 July 2026, with a phased roll‑out schedule and mandatory UBL 2.1 XML/JSON format, digital signatures, and a seven‑year archiving period.

Oman will introduce an e-invoicing mandate in 2026. The Oman Tax Authority (OTA) is hosting a second consultative workshop for service providers to discuss compliance and preparation for the upcoming requirement.

Under new UK legislation, businesses will no longer pay VAT on goods donated to charity, effective 1 April 2026. The change removes the current requirement for VAT on free gifts to charities, while donated resale goods remain zero‑rated. The relief aims to reduce waste and administrative costs for businesses and charities alike.

This HMRC internal manual provides guidance on VAT assessments, error correction, amendments, and withdrawals. It outlines procedures for dealing with MTD customers, powers of assessment, and remission of tax. The manual serves as a reference for HMRC staff handling VAT assessment processes.

EY Luxembourg outlines strategies for managing VAT exposure in intragroup transactions, emphasizing the importance of proper documentation, transfer pricing alignment, and compliance with reverse-charge mechanisms. The article serves as a practical guide for multinational entities operating within the EU to reduce audit risk and ensure correct VAT treatment across group entities.

Armenia has introduced a VAT exemption for electric vehicles effective from 1 January 2026. The exemption covers specific HS codes for the first month of the year and then applies only to vehicles manufactured after 31 December 2023 for the remainder of 2026. The change follows legislative amendments made on 17 December 2025.

Marosa announces a webinar on 28 January 2026 covering invoicing and VAT compliance across Europe and Latin America, focusing on regulatory developments up to 2030. The session will feature experts Alexia García, Matt Ayton, and Daniela Lavin, and will provide guidance on integrating invoicing and VAT compliance for businesses operating in both regions.

HMRC guidance clarifies that input tax must normally be claimed in the accounting period when the tax became chargeable, but allows late claims under Regulation 29 if circumstances such as missing evidence or internal cut‑off dates apply. HMRC will not permit late claims if the capping limit has passed, if there is evidence of careless error or repeated late claims, and partially exempt taxpayers must recover only to the extent the tax would have been deductible. Staff should seek advice from the VAT Deductions Team or Tax Administration Policy Team when potential manipulation or contrived delays are suspected.

Bulgaria has amended its VAT Act to introduce new regimes for goods supplied with installation by EU suppliers and for small enterprises, effective 1 January 2026. The changes remove the reverse‑charge obligation for goods assembled or installed by EU‑based foreign suppliers and establish two special schemes for small businesses to align with the EU VAT Directive.

Bloomberg Tax argues that digital services taxes (DSTs) are ineffective and distort the digital economy, citing low revenue and compliance burdens. The article highlights that several countries—including Canada, India, Malaysia, and France—have moved away from DSTs or are considering alternatives, and it advocates shifting to a VAT framework for digital services.

Japan’s ruling coalition agreed in December 2025 to an outline of 2026 tax reform proposals covering corporate, international, consumption, and individual tax. The proposals include amendments to Pillar Two global minimum tax rules and new measures for consumption tax, R&D credits, and domestic production incentives. The outline is indicative and subject to legislative approval.

This guide outlines Arkansas’s statewide sales and use tax rate of 6.5%, economic nexus thresholds, prepayment obligations for high‑volume sellers, and the state’s participation in the Streamlined Sales Tax initiative. It also covers exemption certificates, filing methods, and the destination‑based sourcing rule.

Brazil has approved a second law that operationalises its dual VAT system, introducing a federal CBS tax of 8.8% and a state/municipal IBS tax of 17.7% and replacing PIS, Cofins, ICMS and ISS. The legislation establishes a national governance body for IBS, provides sector‑specific rules, and sets a phased transition from 2026 to 2033.

Peppol e-invoicing is a key pillar of European digital compliance, with the network based on EN 16931 and Peppol BIS enabling interoperability in Belgium, France, and Germany. New mandates in Belgium (2026) and France (Facture Electronique) will adopt Peppol, and Melasoft serves as a certified Peppol Access Point to automate compliance, integrating with SAP to ensure 100% legal compliance across 30+ countries.

The European Union’s data supervisor cautions that the EU’s intensified crackdown on VAT fraud could blur the line between data cooperation and law enforcement, potentially undermining data protection. The warning highlights concerns about the balance between anti‑fraud measures and privacy safeguards.

The EU will abolish the EUR 150 customs duty exemption for small parcels from 1 July 2026, replacing it with a fixed EUR 3 duty per item if VAT is paid via IOSS. A Union‑wide customs handling fee will start in November 2026, while several Member States have already introduced national fees from 1 January 2026. Additionally, the EU will incentivise the IOSS mechanism for B2C distance sales from 1 July 2028 and is working to remove the EUR 150 threshold for IOSS.

This manual provides HMRC staff with guidance on cross‑border exchange of information under UK international exchange agreements. It covers core principles, legal framework, specific forms of exchange, country‑by‑country reporting, automatic exchange of financial accounts, guidance on tax rulings, disclosable arrangements, mandatory disclosure rules, crypto‑asset reporting framework, and reporting rules for digital platforms.

HM Revenue & Customs confirms that the Extra Statutory Concession for linked goods, previously outlined in Notice 48, is no longer required. Supplies that were eligible for the concession will now be treated as single supplies under the standard VAT legislation, following existing case law. This change simplifies compliance by eliminating the need for the concession.

Poland’s 2026 tax landscape focuses on digital compliance, with mandatory e‑invoicing via the National e‑Invoicing System (KSeF) and new corporate income tax reporting in JPK_CIT format. The year also sees expanded withholding tax exemptions for foreign investment funds and a temporary 30% corporate tax rate for banks.

KPMG’s latest e‑invoicing developments timeline highlights key implementations for 2026. Belgium will require all VAT payers to issue and receive electronic invoices for domestic B2B transactions from 1 January 2026, with a fallback rule for technical issues. Poland will implement the remaining four e‑invoicing acts in February 2026 after signing them on 9 December 2025.