Move over Jaffa Cakes — there’s a new sweet controversy in town! Marks & Spencer’s viral Strawberries & Cream Sandwich is making waves, not just for its […]
The Great VAT Debate: Strawberry Sandwich or Cake?
All posts by Christina Cawley
Palmstråle case shows that VAT exemption may still apply despite customs error
On 12 June 2025, the EU Court of Justice (ECJ) made a big decision (Case C-125/24, Palmstråle AG) that’s good news for businesses re-importing goods into the […]
New UK-EU “Reset” Deal: A Quiet but Crucial Update for VAT and Trade
Following a summit in London between the United Kingdom and the European Union, an agreement was reached on 19th May 2025 with the aim of “resetting” the […]
Frustration grows for UK taxpayers trying to reach HMRC on their VAT Helpline
Over the past year, we’ve seen a significant increase in businesses reaching out to us for support with UK VAT matters. Not only because there have been […]
EU Council Officially Adopts VAT in the Digital Age Package: What It Means for Businesses
The Council of the European Union has officially approved the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package as of yesterday, 12th March, 2025. This package is seen […]
EU VAT Gap increased in 2022
On 18 December, 2024, the European Commission issued a report outlining its findings on the VAT compliance Gap in the European Union. The VAT gap represents the […]
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- ►2026
- ► January
- Increase in the Intrastat thresholds in Slovenia
- New Intrastat thresholds in Latvia
- Key updates to e-invoicing in Romania
- Intrastat Threshold for 2026 period in Poland
- Slovak National Council Approves Tax Reforms
- Portugal Extends December 2025 Invoice Reporting Deadline to 9 January 2026
- Four New Regulations finalised for E-Invoicing Framework in Poland
- ► January
- ►2025
- ► December
- Switzerland - Annual VAT reporting for Eligible Small Businesses
- Amendments to the VAT Act Adopted by Croatian Parliament
- VAT-related rulings on intra-Community acquisitions and triangular transaction simplification
- New Italian Ruling affecting VAT Groups
- Morrisons get its fingers burnt after losing £17 million hot food VAT battle with HMRC
- EU to introduce customs duty fee on low-value e-Commerce packages from July 2026
- Belgium - VAT rate increases / decreases postponed till 1st March 2026
- Finnish VAT rate change to 13.5% approved by parliament
- UK Confirms Mandatory B2B E-Invoicing from April 2029
- Compliance in Real Time: Sweden’s Digital Audit Era
- Key Changes to Cyprus Intrastat Thresholds for 2026
- Sweden - Draft bill to reduce VAT rate on food
- Finland - Removal of intrastat arrivals obligation
- Lithuania - Intrastat thresholds for 2026
- Romania Intrastat Thresholds for 2026
- Romania’s tax audit program: intensified controls and digital enforcement
- Spain announces delay to Verifactu, giving companies more time to prepare
- Hungary - Public Consultation on New Mandatory e-Invoicing System
- Finland - single reference number for tax payments
- ► November
- France Faces €10 billion VAT shortfall: A fiscal shock for Europe’s second-largest economy.
- Amazon Ends Commingling: A New Era for Fulfilment
- UK 2025 Budget Update: Another Divergence by HMRC From EU Law
- Belgium - Budget agreements
- HMRC Tightens the Reins on Input VAT Refunds with Increased Scrutiny
- New Irish Revenue Guidance on application of VAT Group rules
- Poland - Proposed Increase in VAT Rate for Certain Non-Alcoholic and Energy Drinks
- Slovenia - Mandatory Business-to-Business (B2B) e-invoicing
- Germany - changes to the intra-EU VAT validation framework
- Portugal - VAT groups
- Switzerland - Proposed VAT rate changes delayed
- Hungary - Increase in VAT registration thresholds
- Crack-Down on lost VAT: How the EU Is Tackling Undervalued Import Parcels
- France reinstates VAT Exemption Regime retrospectively as of 1st January 2025
- VAT Treatment of single-use vouchers clarified in recent BFH ruling.
- Poland Proposes Major Changes to JPK_VAT
- Belgium - Proposed 22% VAT rate
- Germany to permanently reduce VAT on restaurant and catering services to 7% from 1.1.2026
- Portugal - Budget 2026
- Romania - Propose change to the Tax registration form
- Lithuania - VAT rate changes
- Cyprus - Extension of 0% VAT rate on essential goods
- The Netherlands – Bill to maintain reduced VAT rate on culture, media and sport accepted by Senate
- Bulgaria - Intrastat thresholds for 2026
- UK - Intrastat thresholds from 1st January 2026
- Import VAT Recovery: Why the right documentation matters
- France - VAT registration thresholds
- UK Import VAT Recovery: HMRC confirms ownership still matters
- Understanding the VAT Implications of Poland’s New Deposit Refund Scheme
- VeriFactu Regulation in Spain: What Businesses Need to Know for 2026
- France says “Au Revoir” to simplified tax representation- how non-EU importers must prepare
- No Exemption without transportation of tools: ECJ provides clarity in Brose Prievidza (C-234/24)
- HMRC Takes Another Step Toward Full Digitalisation with VAT Error Corrections Now Fully Online
- ► October
- Czech Republic - VAT group registration
- Portugal - Proposal to delay implementation of e-invoices, QES and SAF-T file
- Urgent: Non-EU businesses required to secure bank guarantee for VIES registration in Italy.
- Regulating the Digital Economy: VAT Controversy over user data at META
- Post-Brexit VAT Divergence and why the EU Forgives and the UK Doesn’t?
- VAT Considerations in Toll Manufacturing: Classification of Supplies
- Ireland - E-Invoicing and real time reporting
- Disbursements vs. Recharges : Understanding VAT Implications across the EU
- Poland - 50% VAT deduction on road vehicles extended
- Latvia - VAT Cut on Basic Foods
- Ireland - Budget 2026 - VAT rate changes
- The Netherlands - Bill to maintain reduced VAT rate on culture, media and sport adopted
- Belgium - New circular on the modernisation of the VAT chain
- Denmark - Proposal to remove 25% VAT rate on fruits and vegetables
- ► September
- Ferrero vs. HMRC and How Nutella Biscuits Escaped the 20% VAT Trap
- Loyalty Points or Discounts? Understanding the VAT Impact
- Greece - Mandatory e-invoicing
- Italy - VAT groups registration
- Portugal - VAT group simplification
- Slovakia - proposed increase in VAT rate on foods with high sugar and salt content
- Sweden - Temporary VAT cut on food
- 5 Data Considerations When Choosing the Right Compliance Solution for Your Business
- Bulgaria - SAF-T technical documentation published
- The EU E-Invoicing Shift and Why Data Accuracy Is Everything
- E-Invoicing in the EU: How are the Tax Authorities using your data?
- Are Pre-Filled VAT Returns Really Beneficial for Businesses?
- Concerns Raised at VAT Expert Group Meeting on E-Invoicing Standardisation Across the EU
- Romania - Change in the VAT registration threshold
- Belgium - Postponement of the introduction of the VAT chain
- ► August
- Major Overhaul to Slovakia’s VAT Return: What You Need to Know This Filing Period
- Slovakia - E-Invoicing
- Finland - change in the VAT refund process
- Belgium - E-Invoicing
- Greece - Mandatory B2B e-invoicing
- Denmark - Proposal to abolish VAT rate on books
- How UK VAT Registered Businesses saved £915 million and 49 Million Hours on VAT Compliance (and why you can too)
- Northern Ireland’s Unique Position Amid Changing US Tariffs?
- ► July
- Romania’s Last-Minute VAT Rate Change: A Wake-Up Call for SAP-Driven Businesses
- HMRC plan to be fully digital by 2030 but are your VAT processes ready?
- Poland - Corrections of VAT declaration during audit
- Norway - Mandatory E-Invoicing and Digital Bookkeeping
- The EU Council approves proposal for changes to legislation relating to EU distance sales made from outside the EU
- Romania - VAT rate changes
- Germany - Unified E-Invoicing Platform
- Bulgaria - SAF-T implementation
- Rethinking VAT Compliance in the era of real-time reporting
- The German Ministry of Finance releases new publication regarding e-invoicing
- Concerns Raised at VAT Expert Group Meeting on E-Invoicing Standardisation Across the EU
- Managing Global Indirect Tax Compliance: The Challenges Facing VAT Compliance Managers
- Urgent: Time is running out for Non-EU businesses to secure bank guarantee for VIES registration in Italy.
- Romania - Change in standard and reduced VAT rate
- The Great VAT Debate: Strawberry Sandwich or Cake?
- Palmstråle case shows that VAT exemption may still apply despite customs error
- ► June
- Croatia - E-Invoicing and E-reporting
- Poland - Draft legislation KSeF 2.0 adopted by Council of Minsters
- Lithuania - Bill proposing change in reduced VAT rate approved
- Slovakia - The bill proposing reduction in VAT rate rejected
- Romania - B2C e-invoicing
- Outdated and Overwhelmed: Why It’s Time to Automate VAT Compliance in SAP
- Greece - B2G e-invoicing postponed
- Finland - Reduction in the reduced VAT rate
- Poland - New draft acts on KSeF published
- Latvia - Mandatory B2B e-invoicing postponed
- ► May
- Why Standard SAP Condition Records Fall Short in VAT Determination — And What You Can Do About It
- Why VAT Teams Can't Afford to Ignore SAP’s Innovation Flywheel: What Sapphire 2025 Really Means for You
- France – End of one-off fiscal representation for imports: Extension granted
- New UK-EU "Reset" Deal: A Quiet but Crucial Update for VAT and Trade
- Slovakia - Import VAT postponement scheme
- Estonia - Standard VAT rate change
- Bulgaria - Draft order on the SAF-T released for public consultation
- Portugal - Deadline date extension for certain VAT declarations
- Poland - New draft version released of e-invoicing FA(3) schema
- Latvia - Proposal to delay B2B e-invoicing
- France - Reduction in the VAT exemption threshold delayed
- Netherlands to start rejecting VAT returns submitted too early
- Poland - Raise in the VAT exemption limit
- Hungary - Changes to late payment penalties
- Hungary - SAF-T file
- Hungary: Planned VAT changes in 2025
- EU Proposes VAT Reforms to Boost I-OSS Use and Strengthen VAT Compliance for Imported Goods
- Finland - Proposal to reduce VAT rate from 14% to 13.5%
- Germany - Planned reduction in VAT rate on restaurant meals
- Estonia - Bill to lower VAT rate on food products rejected
- Frustration grows for UK taxpayers trying to reach HMRC on their VAT Helpline
- Lithuania - proposed changes in reduced VAT rate
- ► April
- ► March
- Hungary - Proposal to reduce VAT rate on basic foodstuffs
- Finland - Plan to increase VAT rate on sweets and chocolate abandoned
- Netherlands - VAT rate change delayed
- Lithuania - Proposal to increase VAT exemption threshold for small buisnesses
- Lithuania - Increase in the reduced VAT rate planned
- EU Council Officially Adopts VAT in the Digital Age Package: What It Means for Businesses
- Poland - Changes in the VAT Act:
- Slovenia - E-invoicing
- ► February
- Belgium – Changes to modernise the VAT procedure as well as VAT collection
- Clarification of the conditions for adjusting incorrectly charged French VAT
- Spain - Intrastat sanctions
- Intrastat thresholds - 2025
- Netherlands - Submission of the supplementary return
- Italy - Extension of a Pilot for Pre-Filled VAT Returns
- Croatia - Electronic invoicing
- Netherlands - Planned changes in the VAT rate
- Netherlands - Real-Time taxation:
- Belgium - Federal government agreement on VAT topics
- Slovenia - Mandatory submission of VAT ledgers as of 1 July 2025
- Slovakia - planned changes from 1 July 2025
- Portugal - VAT rate changes
- Latvia - E-Invoicing
- Lithuania plans to reduce VAT on essential food and catering services
- ► January
- ► December
- ►2024
- ► December
- EU VAT Gap increased in 2022
- Finland - Increase in the reduced VAT rate from 10% to 14%, effective 1st January 2025
- France - VAT Reduction for Shoe and Leather Goods Repairs from 20% to 5.5% as of 1st January 2025.
- Ireland - VAT Rate changes announced in State Budget for 2025
- Malta - Women’s sanitary products will be subject to a 0% VAT rate as of 1st January 2025.
- ► November
- ITALY - new VAT penalties regime entered into force
- Changes to EU place of supply rules for virtual events as of January 2025
- Slovakia - Approved increase of the standard and reduced VAT Rate with effect from 1st January 2024
- Cyprus - 0% VAT Rate for basic food and women's hygiene products has been reinstated as of 4th November 2024.
- VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package is APPROVED!
- ► October
- New regulations for Small Businesses operating within EU effective from 1st January 2025
- Slovakia - Proposal of the standard VAT Rate increase from 20% to 23% with effect from 1st January 2025.
- Estonia - Changes in the VAT Rates in 2025
- Belgium - Change of the deadline for quarterly VAT declarations from 1st January 2025.
- Cyprus - 0% VAT Rate for basic food and women's hygiene products will not be further extended after 30th September 2024
- ► July
- ► June
- ► May
- Slovakia - Draft bill proposing a temporary reduction of the VAT Rate for gasoline and diesel fuels
- Lithuania - Proposal to reinstate the reduced VAT Rate for Catering Services and Takeaway food
- Cyprus - 0% VAT Rate for basic food and women's hygiene products extended.
- VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package NOT approved
- Bulgaria - Further extension of 0% VAT Rate for bread and flour.
- ► April
- ► March
- 4 party VAT triangulation permissible in the Netherlands
- UK - Increase of the VAT registration and de-registration threshold
- Poland - 0% VAT Rate on food will not be extended after 31st March 2024
- Germany - Reduced VAT Rate for gas and district heating will expire on 31st March 2024
- Poland - proposal of reduced VAT Rate for Beauty Industry from 23% to 8%
- UK - HMRC changes in the agent authorisation for VAT
- ► February
- Final proposal on German e-invoicing legislation published
- Slovenia - Stricter penalties for for late VAT submission
- Northern Ireland and UK - Changes in the OSS and IOSS schema
- New timetable for the introduction of e-invoicing in France
- Poland - Consultations regarding the e-invoicing
- Belgium urged to prioritise the SVR element of ViDA during current EU Council presidency
- Creating a business case for VAT transformation
- Polish e-invoicing – discussions on implementation of KSeF to begin shortly
- Germany - Germany offer online marketplace operators the facility to check domestic VAT ID numbers
- ► January
- ► December
- ►2023
- ► December
- Poland - zero per cent VAT rate on food extended until 30th June 2024.
- Germany to delay mandatory issuing of e-invoices until January 2027
- Latvia - Government approved increase in VAT rate on fruit and vegetables to 12%
- France - French Senate proposed new earlier timeline for introduction of e-invoicing for large businesses.
- ► November
- Finland - Proposed increase in reduced VAT rate from 10% to 14% from 2025
- Sweden - Update in invoicing guidelines
- UK - Autumn Statement for 2023
- Greece- Budget 2024 - Proposed VAT changes
- Poland - Proposal to extend 0% VAT rate on food until 30th June 2024.
- Slovakia - Proposal to increase the VAT registration threshold from EUR 49,790 to EUR 75,000.
- Czech Republic - Consolidation of the reduced VAT rates into a single 12% rate from 1st January 2024 was signed into law.
- Digital VAT Reporting consultation in Ireland: Revenue to take inspiration from businesses’ experiences in other jurisdictions
- Germany - VAT on restaurant and catering services to revert to 19% from 1st January 2024.
- EU Commission ViDA update: Implementation delayed due to Member State deliberation on e-invoicing & digital reporting pillar
- Czech Republic - Consolidation of the reduced VAT rates into a single 12% rate approved by the Parliament
- Luxembourg - Extension of reverse charge mechanism from 1st January 2024
- EU - Update on e-invoicing time frame
- Latvia - Proposed 12% VAT rate on fruit and vegetables
- Romania - Change in VAT rate from 1st january 2024
- ► October
- Czech Republic - Consolidation of the reduced VAT rates into a single 12% rate approved by Lower Parliament
- Ireland - Zero rated medical equipment and appliances explained
- France - New timeline for e-invoicing
- Estonia - E-invoicing
- Portugal - Proposed VAT measures in Budget 2024
- Greece - Potential e-invoices from 2025
- EU Commission update on ViDA discussions: Pre-clearance of invoice to be the cornerstone of E-invoicing & Digital reporting requirements
- Hungary - New M2M eVAT platform from 1st January 2024
- Ireland: Public consultation on VAT e-invoicing & digital reporting
- Malta - New 12% reduced VAT rate
- Greece - Changes in VAT rate from 1st November 2023
- Latvia - Proposed increase of VAT registration threshold to €50,000 in 2024
- Ireland - Proposed VAT measures in Budget 2024
- Croatia - B2B e-invoicing
- Bulgaria - Plans to introduce SAF-T
- Romania - Draft legislation on mandatory real time reporting from 1st January 2024 and e-invoicing from 1st July 2024
- Italy - VAT deductibility for end of the year invoices received in January
- Belgium - Draft legislation on B2B e-invoicing from 1st January 2026
- ► September
- Latvia E-Invoicing
- Germany E-Invoicing
- Belgian Intrastat Portal access
- Portugal and Cyprus - Extension of the zero VAT rate on essential goods
- Romania - Change in VAT rate in the wood and energy industries
- Denmark - New automatic functionality to reconcile amounts declared in the VAT return
- Switzerland - VAT compliance changes from 1 January 2025
- Netherlands - Change in the invoice requirement for triangular simplification and on small businesses regulation
- Denmark - Interest on VAT corrections from 1st July 2023
- Romania - Change in VAT return form
- Slovakia - Proposed lower threshold on simplified invoices
- ► August
- ► July
- The German Ministry of Finance issues first draft of its Growth Opportunities Act
- Finland - VAT rate change proposal
- Slovakia - E-invoicing for B2G and G2G transactions
- Lithuania - Extension of reduced VAT rate for food services
- Germany receives authorisation to proceed with B2B e-invoicing
- The European Parliament proposes potential delay to ViDA of up to 2 years
- VAT rules on e-commerce: EU Commission outlook two years on
- Spain - Reduction in VAT rate on basic food items extended until 31st December 2023.
- Proposal issued to allow derogation to Germany for B2B e-invoicing
- ► June
- Romania - E-invoicing for all B2B transactions
- Sweden clarifies its position in regards to fixed establishments in Sweden
- Belgium updates circular to confirm "Reverse Charge" wording being necessary in simplified triangulation
- Netherlands - Increase in interest rate charged on late payment of VAT
- Belgium - Extension to submission deadline for periodic VAT return and EC sales list
- Estonia - Increase in VAT rates.
- Switzerland will introduce deemed supplier rules for online marketplaces
- ViDA: Update from ECOFIN meeting
- United Kingdom and Isle of Man - Change to interest rates applied to late VAT payments and overpayments.
- Cyprus - Proposed reduction in VAT on a number of products and services.
- VIDA deadline may be extended
- EU Customs reform: A VAT perspective
- VIDA - Public consultation - Meridian Podcast Series
- ► May
- Germany - Businesses using OSS may receive payment reminders from other EU Member States.
- Poland - End to tax schemes introduced as a result of the cancellation of the COVID 19 epidemic emergency - July 2023.
- Portugal - Extension to submission and payment deadline for periodic VAT return for the period June and Quarter 2 2023.
- Change in HMRC - VAT registration helplines
- German Ministry of Finance publishes clarification on the VAT treatment of chain transactions
- Belgium - Changes to the issuing of VAT statement of accounts
- Greece - mandatory e-invoicing in B2G sector
- EU VAT Update May 2023
- Top 5 risks areas for cross-border VAT
- ► April
- Swiss periodic VAT return modified to incorporate increase in VAT rates from January 2024
- Update on mandatory e-invoicing in Germany for B2B domestic transactions
- Cyprus - Extension to the submission and payment deadlines for periodic VAT returns.
- Portugal temporarily applies zero rate VAT to certain foodstuffs
- Poland - Introduction of reverse charge on wholesale transaction related to gas, energy and CO2 emission allowances.
- EU VAT update April 2023
- France - Secure messaging service - September 2023
- ► March
- France - Change in VAT registration process
- Italy assesses VAT on free services
- ECJ ruling on case 695/20 – Fenix International Ltd
- 2023 Intrastat thresholds
- E-Invoicing in Germany
- Belgium announces updates to VAT procedures and collection
- Meridian wins innovation award for SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP)
- EU VAT trends March 2023
- Changes in thresholds for VAT payments frequency in Italy
- Meridian wins innovation award for SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP)
- The Windsor Framework and its impact on VAT in Northern Ireland
- VAT updates for Poland and Belgium
- ► December
- ►2022
- ►2021
- ►2020