PIGEONS
Belgium is the birthplace of the homing pigeon. Nearly all of the world’s prize-winning homers can trace their pedigrees back to Belgian fanciers. Simply put, Belgians love their pigeons, and, to this day, pigeon racing is considered the national sport.
Pigeons are serious business, with some racing pigeons being sold for prices that rival luxury cars. And let’s face it, these birds have an impressive GPS system. No Wi-Fi, no smartphone, and yet, somehow they always find their way home. Imagine if people had that kind of sense of direction – we’d never have to worry about getting lost on the way to the grocery store again!
Now, while pigeons have a long-standing career in racing, they were also once the unsung heroes of communication. Long before WhatsApp or email, pigeons were trusted to carry messages across great distances. It’s remarkable when you think about it: relying on a bird to deliver your urgent mail. And unlike our modern postal systems, they never went on strike!
But, just picture it for a moment: you hand over a letter to a pigeon, it takes off, flapping its wings with confidence… and then a gust of wind sends it on an impromptu vacation to Paris instead of Brussels. It’s the 19th-century equivalent of sending an email and getting an error message: “Delivery failed.”
This might seem like a stretch, but there’s something about pigeons that reminds me of VAT compliance. Stay with me on this. Just like with homing pigeons, businesses often feel like they’re sending their VAT declarations out into the wind, hoping they land in the right place (read: tax office) at the right time. But one wrong gust – like a misinterpretation of the rules or a missed deadline – and suddenly, you’re off course, heading toward hefty fines and penalties.
Just like those prized Belgian pigeons, VAT needs careful handling, precision, and a lot of preparation to ensure it lands exactly where it’s supposed to. And if you need help navigating the world of VAT, unlike those birds, you don’t have to do it alone. Visit us at www.vatupdate.com, where we keep your VAT compliance on track – no feathers involved.
If you have any comments, questions, or ideas that you want to share with us, please send us an email at [email protected] or leave a comment under the posts of this newsletter on LinkedIn.
To go directly to the region, click below:
WORLD
WORLD
- Discussion on Online VAT Registration with Multinational Companies in Digital Services Sector in Paris
- Understanding the Different Types of e-Invoicing Transactions
- 2024 Tax Policy Reforms Report: Trends in VAT, Carbon Taxes, and Excise Duties
- Digital services tax jurisdiction activity summary now available
- Worldwide updates on E-Invoicing/Real Time Reporting/SAF-T in September 2024
- OECD Tax Policy Reforms 2024
- Global VAT Revolution in E-commerce and Digital Services Tax – September 2024 Update!
- WTO Drafts Groundbreaking Global E-commerce Agreement
- Why the Economic Effects of Taxes (Including Tariffs) Matter
- The Link Between Transfer Pricing and Customs Valuation-8th Edition Country Guide
- Why capturing the correct FX rate is crucial to VAT success of domestic invoices using foreign currency
- Mandatory E-Invoicing penalties around the world
- Is the UBL format as complicated as it seems? Let’s simplify it
- E-Invoicing & E-Reporting developments in the news in week 39/2024
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
- Job opportunities: Tax Specialist at FedEx
- Job opportunities: Working at DLL as Indirect Tax Specialist
WEBINARS / EVENTS
- Webinar – Recording + Slides – Navigating the E-Invoicing Revolution: Are You ViDA-Ready?
- Sovos Webinar – Recording & slides – Navigating VAT Audits: Key SAF-T Updates in Romania, Bulgaria…
- 4apps Webinar – Costing Methods Netsuite (Oct 1)
- SNI Webinar – Navigating Germany’s B2B e-Invoicing Mandate: What B2B Companies Need to…
- Sovos Webinar – Navigating VAT Audits: Key SAF-T Updates in Romania, Bulgaria and Poland (Oct 3, 2024)
- Comarch Webinar – E-Invoicing in Germany: Achieve Legal, Technical, and Tax Compliance (feat….
AFRICA
BENIN
EGYPT
- Egypt: Mandatory Tax ID and UIN Validation for B2B Sales
- Selected foreign businesses in Egypt will integrate with ETA portal for real-time validations
ETHIOPIA
- Ethiopia Introduces VAT on Remote Services and Marketplace Rules: Impact and Implementation Timeline
- Ethiopia’s New VAT Exemptions: Water, Electricity, and Transport Services for Low-Income Groups
- Ethiopia: Draft regulation implementing VAT on cross-border provision of digital services
GHANA
KENYA
NIGERIA
- Boosting the Economy: 63 Items Exempted from VAT to Drive Growth and Development
- Nigeria’s New E-Invoicing Rules: Streamlining Tax Compliance with Electronic Invoices…
- FG Clarifies: No Plans to Increase VAT to 10%, Emphasizes Commitment to Fiscal Stability
RWANDA
TANZANIA
AMERICAS
BRAZIL
CARIBBEAN NETHERLANDS
CHILE
COLOMBIA
COSTA RICA
EL SALVADOR
PERU
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
UNITED STATES
- Florida DOR Corrects Sales Tax Rate Chart Error in Revised Tax Information Publication
- Sitka, Alaska Declares Sales Tax Free Days on November 29th & 30th, 2024
- Outcome of US presidential election will impact trade and tariffs
- Sales/Use Tax Quarterly Update for fourth quarter of 2024
- New York Advisory Opinion: ITFA Protects Internet Access Services from Sales Tax
- Massachusetts Sales And Use Tax Amnesty: Benefits, Qualifications, and How to Participate
- Navigating Complex Sales Tax Compliance in Various Industries: Challenges and Solutions
- Nebraska Introduces Good Life Districts with Varied State and Local Sales Tax Rates
- Navigating New Mexico Sales Tax Nexus: Compliance Criteria and Effective Strategies for Businesses
- US Sales Tax Rate Updates for October 2024
URUGUAY
- Uruguay Extends VAT Rate Reduction for Tourism Sector until April 2025.
- Uruguay Extends Reduced VAT Rate for Tourism Sector Until April 30, 2025
- Uruguay Extends VAT Rate Reduction for Tourism Sector to April 2025
- Uruguay extends application of reduced VAT rate for tourism sector until 30 April 2025
ASIA-PACIFIC
AUSTRALIA
- New GST Return Introduced for Large Taxpayers Following Assurance Review in Australia 2024-2025
- New Annual GST Return Released for Australia’s Largest Businesses – International Update…
- New GST return puts the spotlight on assurance review commitments
- New GST Reporting Requirement for Top 100 and Top 1,000 Taxpayers: Supplementary Annual Returns Introduced
- Insights on ATO Findings: Enhancing Tax Governance for Top Taxpayers
- New GST Reporting Requirement for Top 100 and Top 1,000 Taxpayers: Supplementary…
- Guide to Lodging Supplementary Annual GST Return 2025 for Top 100 and Top 1,000 Businesses
- Guide to Completing Supplementary Annual GST Return 2025: Step-by-Step Instructions for Each Section
- Supplementary Annual GST Return for Large Businesses with GST Assurance Review
INDIA
- New ITC Ledger System: Combatting GST Fraud in ITC Claims Expected in November
- Canara Bank Introduces Online GST Payments via Credit Card, Debit Card, and UPI
- IDFC FIRST Bank Integrates with GST Portal for Easy Tax Payments and Confirmations
- GSTN Launches New Invoice Management System (IMS)
- India Launches New Invoice Management System (IMS) for GST Efficiency and Transparency
- Enhanced Efficiency: GSTN Launches New E-Invoice Verifier and e-Services App
- GSTN Advisory Attempts to Overrule High Court Decisions on Unsigned Notices/Orders – Seems Patently Untenable
- Weekly GST Communique dated September 30, 2024
- GST Compliance Calendar for the month of October 2024
MALAYSIA
- Malaysia’s Gazette Order: Issuance of Electronic Invoices – What You Need to Know
- How Malaysian Businesses Can Leverage E-Invoicing for Growth
NEW ZEALAND
- Modification Order 2024: Resolving GST Adjustment Rules Error for Taxpayers Before April 2023
- Understanding the Zero-Rating Rules for Supplies of Standing Timber and Crops
PAKISTAN
PHILIPPINES
- Philippines Implements 12% VAT on Non-resident Digital Service Providers and Online Marketplaces
- Philippines Implements 12% VAT on Non-resident Digital Service Providers: Impact and Implications
- Navigating the VAT Refund Dilemma: A Guide for Taxpayers in the Philippines
- 12% VAT on Digital Transactions to Boost Government Revenue by ₱80 Billion
- President signs law imposing 12% VAT on foreign digital services
SRI LANKA
TAIWAN
- Exemption of Business Tax on Rental Income from Social Housing Services: Legal Clarification Needed
- VAT can be reduced in case of a disaster
- Over NT$2.84 Billion Awarded in Cloud and Electronic Invoice Prizes for July-August 2024 Period
- Don’t Forget to Register for Tax When Selling Virtual Goods on Online Platforms
THAILAND
- Thailand Exempts VAT on Cryptocurrency Transfers: Royal Decree No. 788
- Thailand Extends VAT Rate Reduction Until 2025: New Rate Set at 6.3%
- Thailand extends reduced standard VAT rate until 30 September 2025
VIETNAM
EUROPE
EUROPE
- E-Book -SAF-T: An Introduction to the International Standard
- EU-Norway Agreement Strengthens VAT Cooperation: Combating Fraud and…
EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE
- ECJ C-544/24 (Nekilnojamojo turto valdymas) – Questions – EU Court to Examine Lithuanian VAT…
- Polish Supreme Court raises questions to ECJ re VAT Deduction Rules
- News ECJ Case C-639/24 (FLO VENEER) – No details known yet
- Analysis of ECJ Case C-602/24 (W.).- No details known yet
- ECJ C-171/23 (UP CAFFE d.o.o) – Judgment – Formation of a company to exploit VAT exemptions constitutes an abusive practice
- ECJ C-475/23 (Voestalpine Giesserei Linz) – Judgment – Right to deduct VAT if goods purchased are provided to a subcontractor for the subcontractor’s taxable transactions
- ECJ C-565/24 ( P-GmbH & Co. KG) – Questions – VAT Rules for Promotional Excursions
- Comments on ECJ C-475/23: Free provision of goods for third party activities does not inhibit VAT deduction…
- Comments on ECJ cases C-73/22 and 23: Belgian VAT and Online Gambling: Fiscal Neutrality and EU Law Compliance
- Comments on ECJ case C-709/22: Poland’s VAT Split Payment Mechanism Uphold – Implications for Insolvent Businesses
- Comments on ECJ case C-429/23: Denial of VAT deduction beyond deadline confirmed by EU Court
- Comments on ECJ Excise C-596/23: Distance sales of excise goods according to AG CJEU if seller sends choice of carrier
- Referral to CJEU on Polish VAT Regulations related VAT deduction and requirement to possess an invoice
- ECJ C-527/24 (Harry and Associés) – Questions – Validity of a refund application affected by technical computer errors
- This is what happened in the ECJ (VAT) in September 2024 – 9 Cases Decided, 1 Order ….
EUROPEAN UNION
- Proposal for Amending VAT Exemption Certificate Directive: European Parliament Resolution 2024-2029
- EU Commission Sets Rules for Information Exchange in Customs Single Window Certificate System
- EU Customs Single Window System: New Regulations for Data Exchange and Non-Customs Formalities
- The eFTI Regulation – Digitalising freight transport across the European Union
- Small businesses will be exempt from VAT throughout the EU – draft in the Sejm
- E-commerce: EU’s EUR 150 customs duty exemption for B2C sales of imported goods is to be abolished and VAT is to be synced
- Has VAT Become Complex because of its Methods of Interpretation ?
- About the SME scheme in other EU member states
- Commission proposal to impose tariffs on imports of battery electric vehicles from China obtains…
- Greening the EU VAT Rate System: The Case for a Differentiated Assessment
- Changes in the Small Entrepreneurs Scheme in the EU from 2025: What You Need to Know
EUROPEAN UNION – ViDA
AUSTRIA
BELGIUM
- All what you need to know about a periodic VAT return in Belgium
- Belgium VAT Guide
- New VAT Laws in Belgium from 1st January 2025: Changes, Deadlines, and Recommendations
- Belgium Sets the Standard for E-Invoicing – Why It’s Time for Accountants to Take Action
- Belgium: a global role model in e-invoicing – why accountants need to act now
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
BULGARIA
CROATIA
CYPRUS
DENMARK
- DAC7 2024 Reporting Guidelines for Platform Operators: Obligatory Income Reporting for Sellers.
- eSkatData: New Consent Solution Implementation Update in November 2024
- Reclaiming Improper VAT Payment from Third Party: Danish Supreme Court Decision
ESTONIA
- Estonia Extends E-Invoicing Deadline to July 2025 for Private Sector Simplification
- Estonia Sets July 2025 Deadline for Mandatory B2B E-Invoicing Upon Buyer’s Request
- Estonia expands e-invoicing rules from July 2025
FINLAND
- Proposed Changes to Public Broadcasting Taxation: Consultation by Ministry of Finance
- Finland Implements VAT Rate Increase and Reclassification Effective September 2024 – Action Steps for Businesses
- Finnish Supreme Court clarifies VAT treatment of company-provided parking leases in landmark decision.
- Finland: Parliament Reviews 2025 Budget Bill
FRANCE
- France Clarifies VAT Regime for Parahotel Accommodation Services: Important Guidelines for Service Providers
- French Company Convicted of Customs Fraud Involving Sanitary Products in €6 Million Scandal
- France’s E-Invoicing Landscape: Compliance Tips for Local Businesses
- VAT Guide in France – How to fill out your French VAT return (CA3) and avoid common mistakes
GERMANY
- Germany’s Fiscal Code Reforms: Enhancing Efficiency and Transparency in External Audits from 2025
- Overview of Input on Input Tax Deduction for Public Law Legal Entities under § 2b UStG
- BMF announces VAT conversion rates for September 2024: Check the updated rates online!
- Retroactive Invoice Correction for Missing Intracommunity Triangular Transaction Note
- Tax Treatment of Independent Electricity Supply in Property Rental: German Federal Fiscal Court Decision
ICELAND
IRELAND
- Ireland’s Budget 2025: Extending 9% VAT Rate to Address Rising Cost of Living
- VAT compliance simplification for SME’s & increase VAT registration threshold
- Temporary reduced VAT rate for gas and electricity extended till April 30, 2025
ITALY
- New National Customs Regulations in Force: DLgs. 26 September 2024 n. 141 – Key Changes and Challenges
- Public contributions to companies not subject to VAT if acting as mere intermediary
- Deadline for Group VAT option expired on September 30: implications and corrections for…
- VAT Treatment of Funds Received by Alfa S.p.A. under National Recovery Plan: A Detailed Analysis
- Italy: Four Arrested, €97 Million Seized in EPPO VAT Fraud Investigation with VoIP Services
- Increased Limits for VAT Credit Compensation and Refund under Biennial Preventive Agreement
LATVIA
- Proposed Changes to Lower VAT on Select Food Items by Ministry of Finance
- Latvia is one step closer to mandatory e-invoicing
LUXEMBOURG
- Luxembourg VAT Changes 2025: Small Business Exemption, Art Sector Rate, and Cross-Border Regime
- A guide to VAT in Luxembourg
NETHERLANDS
- Future use of rooms in hospice VAT-free; no deduction of input VAT
- Court Ruling Confirms VAT Exemption for Hospice Services in Landmark Decision
- Court ruling confirms VAT exemption for hospice services in the Netherlands, clarifying legal requirements.
- Sorting, Sorting, and Registering Packaging Waste: Reverse Charge Scheme
- Legal Decision on Short Stay Rental of Guest Rooms in Hospice: VAT Implications.
- Court ruling on entrepreneur’s VAT status: lack of economic activities leads to denial of VAT refunds
- No VAT exemption for teacher rental by foundation: Court ruling on educational services.
- Impact of New Gambling Tax on Industry: Court Rules Against Individual Excessive Burden
- Clarity on Revision Period in Proposal for VAT Revision on Investment Services
- Tax Implications of Collaboration by Non-Profit Organizations: Challenges and Solutions
- Court of North Holland Decision on VAT Entrepreneurship in Sale of Building Plots.
- Court case: immovable property not a building site at the time of supply
- No education VAT exemption for the rental of teachers by the foundation
- ‘Privately purchased’ real estate can still fall within the scope of VAT
- Collection and processing of household packaging waste by the municipality is subject to the reverse charge procedure
- VAT simplification for agricultural products to take effect from 1 January 2025
NORWAY
- Norwegian Tax Administration has announced a new version of SAFT
- Norway to Mandate Digital Customs Reporting for Goods Imports by 2025
POLAND
- Consultations Begin for Mandatory KSeF Implementation in Poland: Ensuring Equal Opportunities for All
- NSA Judgment: Full VAT deduction allowed for vehicle without technical inspection before purchase.
- Tax Implications of Supporting Rainfall and Flood Victims: VAT, CIT and PIT Considerations
- VAT Changes in September 2024 – Summary of New Regulations and Events
- Exemption from VAT for intermediary services in PPK management agreements
- Poland: Lower House Passes VAT Exemption and Cash Method for Small Businesses
- Zero VAT not applicable to all donations for flood victims
- Filling out CBAM report without actual emissions data: guidelines and requirements for…
- VAT Exemption Limits for New Businesses: A Guide for Small Entrepreneurs in Poland
- Filling out CBAM report without actual emissions data: guidelines and requirements for importers.
- More and more doubts about the deposit system
- Can the buyer agree to an e-receipt by accepting the terms and conditions of purchase?
- Small Taxpayer Threshold Set at PLN 8.569 Million
- Cash VAT – the Sejm rejected the bill in the first reading
PORTUGAL
- Portugal’s New Environmental Invoice Rules: What Businesses Need to Know
- Madeira to Lower VAT Rate to 4% Starting October 2024 in Budget Adjustment.
ROMANIA
- ANAF Guide on DAC7 Implementation in Romania: Enhancing Tax Transparency and Cross-Border Cooperation
- Romania Requires Non-Resident Businesses to Submit SAFT Starting January 1, 2025
- Romania SAF-T declaration
- The Evolution of E-Invoicing in Romania: Key Trends for 2024
RUSSIA
- Understanding VAT Exemption for Property Management Companies in Russia: Monthly Invoices…
- New VAT declaration form developed by the Russian Federal Tax Service on October 3, 2024.
- MoF Updates VAT Treatment for Resort Services
SERBIA
- Third Conference on Electronic VAT Registration: SEF and E-Invoicing – October 3, 2024.
- Challenges in Transferring Tax ID Data from Serbian Fiscalization System to SEF: An Analysis
- Serbia: Draft Law Introducing Mandatory e-Transport System
SLOVAKIA
- Slovakia’s VAT Rates to Increase: Impact on Businesses and Citizens from 2025
- Slovakia’s VAT Rates Set to Increase in 2025: What Businesses Need to Know
- Slovakia Proposes VAT Rate Increases Effective January 1, 2025
- Slovakia – Significant Increase of the VAT Rates
SLOVENIA
SPAIN
- Update: DIVA System Adapted to New VAT Tax Rates and Technical Guide Revision
- New Export and Transit Document Format for Union Customs Code Implementation
- Professional 3D Character Animation for Video Games: VAT Exemption for Artistic Creations
- Deduction re Vehicle Transport Card in the Name of an Individual
- Tax implications for hairdressing services in elderly care facilities
- September Updates in INFORMA: Veterinary Dispensed Medications and Tax Implications
- Spain Postpones B2B E-Invoicing Mandate to 2027 Amid Technical Delays and Uncertainty
- TEAC Resolution: Hidden Sales Regularization and VAT Inclusion in IRPF Taxable Base.
- Latest Verifactu Updates: Fiscalization in Spain Opens Pre-Production Environment for Developers
- TicketBAI Fiscalization Updates: VAT Rate Changes in Spain’s Álava and Gipuzkoa Provinces
- Spain Extends B2B E-invoicing Deadline to 2027 for Smooth Transition and Compliance with EU…
- Spain Seeks Feedback on DAC8 Transposition Bill for Crypto-Asset Tax Transparency and Amendments
- Spain ends zero VAT on food in October after nearly three years of extraordinary measures.
- Spain VERI*FACTU 2026 certified computerised invoicing update
- E-Invoicing Compliance in Spain: Avoid Fines and Streamline Your Process
- Current Status of Spanish E-Invoicing Projects: Verifactu Initiative
- Temporary Reduced VAT Rates in Spain 2024
- Spanish B2B e-invoice implementation postponed to 2027
- Current Status of Spanish Invoicing Projects
SWITZERLAND
- Draft Practice Adjustments: Exempted Services from Tax (Community) – Call for Comments
- Draft Practice Adjustments: Group Taxation – Call for Comments
- New refund and default interest rates for federal taxes from 2025
TURKEY
- Update – Turkey Terminates Requirement to Submit Notifications on Purchases and Sales
- Turkey Terminates Requirement to Submit Notifications on Purchases and Sales
UKRAINE
- Taxation Order of VAT on Sale of Pledged Property by Debtor: Legal Aspects and Procedures
- Changes in VAT payer registration procedure, including voluntary registration for state entity.
- Extension of VAT zero rate for businesses of persons with disabilities proposed by Bill No. 12078
- Ukraine changes proposals to end import VAT exemption entirely
UNITED KINGDOM
- Maximizing Tax Efficiency: VAT and Second-Hand Goods Margin Scheme
- FTT – Visual Investments Ltd: Disallowed Input Tax on Legal Fees
- Pre-registration VAT Activities: Sales, Purchases, and Recovery Guidelines for Businesses
- Demystifying e-invoicing: A guide to electronic invoicing for businesses and government…
- HMRC Updates VAT Refund Guidance for Public Bodies: Digital Form Now Available for First Claims
- VAT Disallowance Appeal: High Street Jewellers’ Connection to Fraudulent VAT Evasion – Appeal…
- Navigating Customs: Approval and Usage of Flexible Accounting System for Imports (Customs Notice 100)
- Guide to Customs Duty Relief Eligibility and Regulations for Importing Goods into the UK
- Guidelines for Compliance GfC8: New VAT Guidelines for Effective Business Compliance
- HMRC Bank Details Update for Various Tax Regimes: Important Information for Taxpayers
- UK Government Plans to Introduce E-Invoicing to Boost Efficiency and Combat Fraud
- VAT Refund Scheme for Museums and Galleries: Eligibility and Guidelines (VAT Notice 998)
- UK E-Invoicing Initiative: Boosting Productivity and Reducing Administrative…
- VAT Treatment of Sightseeing Passes: Go City Ltd Case Ruling and Implications
- Understanding Invoices and VAT: A Comprehensive Guide for Business Owners
- Zero-Rating for Residential Caravans: HMRC Guidance on VAT Legislation Amendment for 2024
- Customs Declaration Service: Method of Payment Codes for Data Element 4/8 – Guidance and Codes
MIDDLE EAST
BAHRAIN
SAUDI ARABIA
- ZATCA Revolutionizes Customs Fees to Boost Saudi Arabia’s Trade Competitiveness
- ZATCA’s Proposed Amendments to VAT Regulations: Enhancing Clarity, Efficiency, and Transparency
- ZATCA Guidelines for Group 15 Taxpayers on E-Invoicing Integration in Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Tax Authority Announces Criteria for VAT E-Invoicing Integration Wave 16, Effective April 1, 2025
- Saudi Arabia Launches 16th Wave of Phase 2 E-Invoicing Integration
- Saudi Arabia: New Taxpayer Group in Scope of Phase 2 of e-Invoicing Announced
- Saudi Arabia announces 16th wave of Phase 2 e-invoicing integration
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- UAE VAT Executive Regulation Amendments: Key Changes and Impact on Businesses
- UAE VAT Update: Over 30 Amendments Impacting Industries Effective November 15, 2024
- UAE VAT Exemption for Fund Management Services: Impact, Next Steps, and Considerations
- VAT Refund for Emiratis for Building a Home in the UAE
