Ethiopian judges on 21 February 2026 rejected a bid by lawyers to freeze a controversial VAT directive, leaving the directive in effect. The decision centers on whether VAT compliance can be compelled without a threshold, a question that has implications for legal professionals and businesses. The ruling clarifies that the current VAT registration requirements remain unchanged.
They rejected the bid, leaving the directive in effect.
Whether VAT compliance can be compelled without a threshold.
21 February 2026.
Legal professionals and businesses subject to VAT registration in Ethiopia.
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LinkedIn · 5 days ago
Nigeria has extended its e‑invoicing and Electronic Fiscal System (EFS) to medium‑sized and emerging taxpayers. Medium‑size businesses (₦1B–₦5B revenue) must go live on 1 July 2026, while emerging taxpayers (under ₦1B) must go live on 1 July 2027, with enforcement starting 1 January 2027 and 1 January 2028 respectively. The mandate applies to all VAT‑registered businesses issuing invoices for taxable transactions in Nigeria and requires real‑time invoice generation, validation and transmission through the government platform.
EY · 9 days ago
EY discusses the e-invoicing requirements for South Africa, outlining what CFOs and COOs should consider to comply with the new digital invoicing rules.
SABC News · 9 days ago
The Western Cape High Court declared Section 7 of South Africa's VAT Act unconstitutional, ruling that the Minister of Finance cannot unilaterally raise the VAT rate. The court imposed a 12‑month period before Parliament can confirm or reject any VAT rate adjustments, and the proposed 1% increase announced in the 2025 Budget Speech was withdrawn.
Streamline Feed · 14 days ago
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered Overland Airways to refund passengers who were incorrectly charged Value Added Tax (VAT) on flight tickets purchased before the Finance Act’s exemption took effect on 1 January 2026. The directive underscores the NCAA’s role in enforcing consumer protection and ensuring compliance with the new VAT exemption for commercial flight tickets. The order requires immediate action from the carrier to reimburse affected passengers.
BusinessDay · 14 days ago
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.
VatCalc · 16 days ago
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%.
