Slovak Republic: Parliament considers restoring 20% VAT rate
The Slovak Parliament is reviewing four proposed amendments to the VAT Act. The first bill expands the 5% reduced VAT rate to include certain mixes and doughs for baked goods. The second bill extends the 5% rate to menstrual hygiene products like
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Italy gazettes law introducing new VAT reverse charge for logistics
The Italian Budget Law for 2025 (Law No. 207 of 30 December 2024) was published in the Official Gazette on 31 December 2024 which introduces a new value added tax (VAT) reverse charge mechanism specifically for transport, handling, and logistics
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Slovakia Republic announces new VAT rates for energy supplies
The Slovak Republic’s tax authority has released guidance on new VAT rates for energy supplies, effective from 1 January 2025. Under the guidance, the standard VAT rate will rise from 20% to 23%, and the reduced rate (including electricity)
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Philippines: BIR clarifies VAT rules on digital services
The Philippines’ Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has released Revenue Regulation 003/2025, providing a comprehensive guide on implementing value-added tax (VAT) for digital services under Republic Act No. 12023. The regulation also defines the
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Turkey further extends force majeure for 2023 earthquake-affected taxpayers
Turkey's Revenue Administration has extended the state of force majeure on 10 January 2025, which was introduced after the 6 February 2023 earthquake for taxpayers with an annual turnover of less than TRY 2.5 million. The state of force majeure,
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Poland: EU approves extension of VAT split payment system
The European Commission (EC) has published a proposal for a Council Implementing Decision on 14 January 2025, authorising Poland to extend its split payment system for VAT collection. After a period of a voluntary split payment system, Poland
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Greece: EU Council approves mandatory e-invoicing plan
The EU Commission has published a proposal for a Council Implementing Decision, on 13 January 2024, authorising Greece to introduce a special measure derogating from Articles 218 and 232 of Directive 2006/112/EC to be able to impose mandatory
See MoreWTO Working Paper: Continuing Significance of MFN Trading Terms
A WTO working paper of 15 January 2025, written by Tomasz Gonciarz and Thomas Verbeet, has the title Significance of most-favoured-nation terms in global trade: A comprehensive analysis. Under the WTO's MFN trading principle, member countries of
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Hungary clarifies place of supply rules for online events
Hungary’s tax authority has published a summary of new place of supply rules for VAT for online events on 2 January 2025. The summary clarifies that the place of supply for services granting access to cultural, artistic, scientific,
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IMF Working Paper: Is Tax Policy Supporting a Costly Industrial Policy in Mozambique
An IMF working paper written by Santos Bila, Utkarsh Kumar and Alexis Meyer-Cirkel with the title Is Tax Policy Costly Industrial Policy in Mozambique? Finds that tax advantages do not compensate for shortcomings in economic conditions. The
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Czech Republic introduces 2025 VAT Law amendments
The Czech Republic has announced it will amend the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act to include a VAT base correction period extension and changes to the rules for correcting the VAT base. The VAT base correction period has been extended to seven years,
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IMF Working Paper: Strengthening Tax Governance Through Legal Design
An IMF working paper of 17 January 2025 written by L. Sofrona, C. Waerzeggers and B. Crowley with the title Strengthening Tax Governance Through Legal Design looks at tax governance in tax administration and how this can be strengthened. The
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Israel issues guidance on increased VAT rate
Israel’s Tax Authority has issued guidance on the increase in the standard VAT rate from 17% to 18%, effective 1 January 2025. The guidance provides an explanation of how to apply the correct VAT rate to transactions such as goods, services,
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Indonesia: President announces 12% VAT limited to luxury goods, services
Indonesia’s President has announced that the VAT rate will increase from 11% to 12%, starting 1 January 2025. However, the VAT increase will only be applicable to luxury goods and services like private jets, yachts, cruise ships, and luxury
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UAE clarifies VAT on crypto mining
The UAE Federal Tax Authority issued VAT Public Clarification - VATP039, providing clarification on the treatment of cryptocurrency mining on 13 January 2025. In a case of proof of work, a person can mine crypto currency for his own account, or
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Denmark gazettes law amending VAT Act, exempts taxation of services provided by authors and artists
Denmark’s Official Gazette published Law No. 1695 on 30 December 2024 which amends the country's Value Added Tax (VAT) Act to address the taxation of services provided by authors and artists, including performing artists, related to their
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Lithuania considers reduced VAT on essential foods, services
The Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) accepted for consideration Draft Bill No. XVP-90 which aims to introduce a reduced 9% VAT rate on essential food products on 30 December 2024. The proposed bill also includes a measure to extend the lower VAT
See MoreWorld Bank: Global Economic Prospects
The World Bank report Global Economic Prospects was issued in January 2025. The report notes that global growth is projected to remain steady at 2.7% in 2025/26, but this relatively low growth rate will not be sufficient to promote sustained
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