French VAT reforms introduced on 1 January 2026 now require UK exporters using DDP into France to hold a French VAT number or have an EU-based importer of record. The changes tighten conditions for DDP movements and increase operational and reporting burdens, prompting exporters to reassess provider capabilities. The reforms aim to strengthen compliance and competitive advantage for logistics operators.
The VATfaqs digest
Global VAT news, delivered Tuesday and Thursday. Free, curated from 50+ official sources, no spam.
No spam · Unsubscribe any time
The Invoicing Hub · 12 days ago
France's e-invoicing mandate will enter its first phase on 1 September 2026, requiring large companies to issue and receive electronic invoices and submit e‑reporting to the PPF, while small firms must only receive them. The latest External Specifications v3.2, published 30 April 2026, mandate hourly aggregation of PPF submissions by Accredited Platforms and clarify B2G, G2B, and G2G processing. AFNOR standards are slated for final updates by the end of May 2026 to cover additional use cases such as agriculture and food industry.
Bloomberg Tax · 14 days ago
The French Supreme Court reaffirmed that contractual arrangements determine the recipient of services for VAT purposes in the American Express case. It ruled that issuer commissions are considered services supplied to a non‑EU recipient, allowing the French entity to recover VAT on those commissions. The decision reinforces the importance of economic substance and contractual reality in VAT treatment.
Melasoft · about 1 month ago
France will enforce e-invoicing for B2B transactions from 1 September 2026, requiring all VAT‑registered businesses to receive and issue invoices in UBL, CII, or Factur‑X formats via certified dematerialisation platforms. The obligation extends to SMEs and micro‑businesses on 1 September 2027, and the Business Directory based on SIREN numbers will replace email addresses for recipient identification.
E-Invoice.app · about 2 months ago
The blog explains that ISO 27001 certification is becoming a mandatory requirement for e‑invoicing platforms in several jurisdictions, notably France, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand. It outlines the key dates, such as France’s September 2026 deadline and the October 2025 completion of the ISO 27001:2022 transition, and details the certification’s three‑year validity and surveillance audit schedule.
Fonoa · 2 months ago
The French e-reporting framework complements e-invoicing by capturing B2C, cross-border B2B and certain payment transactions through Flow 10 (F10). Flow 6 (F6) confirms acceptance or rejection of the reporting file. Reporting frequency and deadlines vary by VAT regime, with standard monthly taxpayers submitting transaction data three times a month and payment data once, all due 10 days after each period.
VATabout · 2 months ago
The French Tax Authority issued guidance on March 4, 2026 clarifying VAT obligations for dropshipping operations that do not use the IOSS. The guidance sets thresholds for import VAT liability, specifies when the seller or consumer is responsible, and requires non‑EU sellers to appoint a tax representative. It also defines the place of taxation for cross‑border distance sales.
Put your brand alongside trusted tax-tech intelligence across 150+ countries.
Key Takeaways
From 1 January 2026, UK exporters must hold a French VAT number or have an EU-based importer of record.
The reforms were introduced on 1 January 2026.
The reforms increase operational and reporting burdens, prompting exporters to review provider capability, data quality, and exception handling speed.
They can either obtain a French VAT number or operate under a compliant structure with an EU-based importer of record.
Primary source
Read the full article at News By WireThis summary was published on VATfaqs.com on 12 February 2026. It relates to VAT developments in France. The original source is News By Wire.
