Russia: FTS clarifies rules on reduced VAT rates and exemption criteria
The Federal Tax Service (FTS) of Russia has issued a reminder on the proper application of reduced VAT rates of 5% and 7%. This announcement was made by FTS on 17 March 2025. Organizations and entrepreneurs must apply these rates consecutively
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Ireland extends 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity until 31 October 2025
Irish Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Minister Darragh O'Brien has welcomed the government decision to extend the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity by a further six months – to 31 October. The 9% VAT rate had been
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Namibia announces tax proposals in 2025-26 budgetÂ
Namibia’s Ministry of Finance unveiled the 2025-26 budget on 27 March 2025, outlining several tax proposals, including corporate tax reductions, VAT changes, and higher excise duties. Namibia’s national budget has risen to NAD 106.3 billion,
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Bulgaria: Parliament adopts 2025 state budget
Bulgaria’s National Assembly has adopted the draft law on the state budget for 2025 at its second reading on 21 March 2025. The 2025 budget proposes no tax increases and projects a deficit of 3% of the gross domestic product (GDP). It forecasts
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Israel: Parliamentary Finance Committee approves 2025 budget
Israel's Parliamentary Finance Committee approved the 2025 state budget on 23 March 2025. The bill proposes that the net state budget for 2025 will stand at about NIS 755.9 billion – the total budget for calculation of the expenditure limit
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South Africa: SARS issues guidance on VAT rate increase starting May
The VAT rate in South Africa will increase from 15.0% to 15.5% starting 1 May 2025, with a planned increase to 16.0% from 1 April 2026. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the
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Nigeria: House keeps corporate tax at 30% and VAT at 7.5%
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has approved and adopted the recommendations of its Committee on Finance, which retains the value added tax (VAT) rate at 7.5%. The previous proposal was to increase to 12.5%, which was set for 2026. The House
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Mongolia considers draft bill to lower VATÂ
Mongolia’s Deputy Speaker B. Purevdorj and MPs Ch. Lodoisambuu, A. Undraa, and G. Uyankhishig proposed a bill on 13 January 2025 to reduce the VAT rate to 5%. This bill was first submitted in 2019 but was returned as it was not reviewed. The
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Turkey raises minimum threshold for VAT refund claim
The government of Turkey has raised the minimum amount for value added tax (VAT) refund claims in cases involving reduced tax rates or exemptions, raising the minimum amount from TRY 2,000 to TRY 10,000. This announcement was published by the
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Ghana: 2025 budget to ease economic pressures on households, businesses
Ghana's Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, presented the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on 11 March 2025 outlining tax policies and proposals designed to restore fiscal discipline, boost revenue generation, and ease economic
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South Africa unveils 2025 budget: Raises VAT and corporate income tax
South Africa's Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, presented the 2025 Budget Speech on 12 March 2025. The minister has proposed raising the VAT rate and corporate and personal income taxes. However, no changes to personal income tax rebates or
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Lithuania considers increasing preferential VAT rate to 12%
Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has confirmed that the Government is considering increasing the preferential rate of value-added tax (VAT) from 9% to 12%. The 21% standard VAT rate and the 5% super-reduced rate will remain
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Finland drops plan to raise VAT on chocolates and candies
Finland's Ministry of Finance has announced that it will not move forward with the planned increase in the VAT rate on chocolates and candies from 14% to 25.5% on 1 June 2025. In addition, the Ministry is preparing a legislative amendment to
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Ecuador cuts VAT on tourism services for carnival holiday
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has enacted Executive Decree No. 542 on 24 February 2025, temporarily lowering the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate to 8% for tourism-related services during the Carnival holiday period from 1 March to 4 March
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Spain issues resolution on VAT rates for bread
The Spanish Directorate General of Taxes issued a resolution (BOE-A-2025-3950) regarding the VAT rates applied to bread on 24 February 2025. The resolution, which was published in the Official Gazette on 27 February 2025, clarifies the VAT
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Slovak Republic proposes VAT and fuel tax reductions
The Slovak Republic ’s Parliament reviewed proposals to amend VAT and excise tax rules on 15 January 2025. Key VAT changes include lowering the standard rate from 23% to 20% , expanding reduced VAT rate eligibility, and increasing the VAT
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Poland: Senate passes various VAT changesÂ
Poland’s Senate has approved several VAT amendments, including extending the reverse charge mechanism for gas, electricity, and greenhouse gas services and maintaining an 8% reduced VAT rate for certain agricultural goods. Additional VAT
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Peru extends reduced VAT rates for tourism sector Until 2027
Peru’s Congress has extended reduced VAT rates for hotels, restaurants, and tourist accommodations until 31 December 2027. The rates will remain at 8% for 2025 and 2026, before increasing to 12% in 2027. The measure, introduced under Law 32219,
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